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Carolina (English) No 212
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STUDENTS' E-MAIL NEWS FROM CZECH REPUBLIC
Faculty of Social Science of Charles University
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail: CAROLINA@cuni.cz
tel: (+42 2) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+42 2) 24810987
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C A R O L I N A No 212, Friday, August 2, 1996.
EVENTS FROM THE PAST TWO WEEKS (JULY 18 - AUGUST 1)
Parliament Expresses Confidence in Klaus' Minority Government
After a two-day debate over the government program declaration
presented by Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, his 16-member cabinet (named
by the president July 4) gained the confidence of Parliament July 25.
All 98 present coalition parliamentary deputies supported the
government, the Communists (22 deputies) and the neo-fascist Republicans
(18) voted against, while the Social Democrats (61) abandoned the hall,
tipping the scales in the coalition's favor. The opposition has 101
deputies, the coalition 99, though Vladimir Budinsky, a member of Klaus'
Civic Democratic Party and the former transportation minister, gave
priority to his vacation instead of the vote (press reports mentioned
his bitterness at not being renamed minister).
President Vaclav Havel, in his speech at Parliament's July 23
inaugural session, requested deputies to support the new government.
Republican Chairman Miroslav Sladek Spews Rasism
Miroslav Sladek, chairman of the Association for the
Republic-Czechoslovak Republican Party proposed reducing the age limit
for criminal prosecution to 10 for Romany (Gypsy) citizens, at
Parliament's July 25 session. Sladek there cited a remark he allegedly
heard: "'Gypsies should be legally responsible from birth, because
that's practically their biggest crime.'"
Sladek's performance was condemned by all parliamentary clubs
except his own. Parliament and Social Democrat Chairman Milos Zeman and
Interior Minister Jan Ruml (Civic Democratic Party) proposed Sladek's
comments be judged by the Mandate and Immunity Committee, though the
Constitution absolves deputies of criminal liability for their
statements in Parliament. The committee may order the deputy to
apologize for his comments and fine him up to one month's salary
(31,200 crowns).
Social Democrats Fail to Get Church Restitution into Parliament
The opposition Social Democrats failed July 26 in their second
attempt to pass a resolution preventing the government from restituting
Catholic Church property. The Republicans blocked the first try July
23, while the second attempt failed by one vote, as some Social
Democrtat deputies were not in attendance. Parliament passed
a resolution requesting government to present their plan for the process
of church separation.
The chairmen of the coalition parties - Civic Democratic Party,
Civic Democratic Alliance and the Christian Democratic
Union-Czechoslovak People's Party - signed an amendment to the coalition
agreement July 17 concerning church restitution. Published reports
indicate the parties agreed of the return of 175,000 hectares of land
and 500 buildings, the property being returned by government ordinance.
After 1998 the state would no longer contribute to the upkeep of church
monuments (with the exception of monuments protected by the state) and
state support would be annualy reduced by a quarter with the goal of the
gradual separation of the church from the state.
The Roman Catholic Church could receive about 5,000 hectares,
because it was stripped of 170,000 hectares of land before February
1948, which is the earliest date for restitution claims (the Communists,
after winning the 1946 elections, took over all government functions in
the 1948 coup), according to the July 19 edition of daily Pravo..
Did Czech Commercial Television Broadcast Legally?
The Broadcasting and Television Council announced July 23 it will
begin legal proceedings because of the unclear relationship between CET
21, license-holder for TV Nova, and the Czech Independent Television
Company, which does TV Nova's broadcasting. The council's experts say
the broadcasting of TV Nova, Premiera TV and Radio Nova Alfa is handled
by companies different than those given authorization.
Petr Krsak filed a suit July 29 against his partners in CET 21,
which the Attorney General's Office previously investigated on the basis
of a complaint from entrepreneur and Poldi Steel Director Vladimir
Stehlik.
TV Nova General Director Vladimir Zelezny expressed his conviction
that the issue is only an easily repaired formality - two missing
signatures on one document.
If the companies do not correct the problems, they could be subject
to fines up to 2 million crowns and the loss of their licenses.
Petrin Funicular to Ride Again August 4
The century-old Petrin funicular in Prague will come to life again
August 4, after being closed four months for reconstruction. The
funicular, suggested by the Czech Hikers' Club, was opened May 1891 in
order to provide better access to the lookout on Petrin Hill, which
together with Prague Castle forms the heart of the Prague skyline.
Though closed during World War I, the 510-meter/525-yard funicular
functioned until the mid-60's. Reconstruction work began in the early
80's, and in 1985 the funicular ran again, uninterrupted until this
year's repairs, which cost 10 million crowns.
Celebration of Czech and Slovak Brotherhood
About 3,000 people took part July 28 in the traditional meeting of
Czechs and Slovaks in Velka Javorina, the highest peak in the White
Carpathians (970 m/3,153 feet), on the Moravian-Slovak border, where the
meetings have occured for about 150 years.
Such activities are necessary to maintain and strengthen
brotherhood, "whether we live now in Slovakia or the Czech Republic,"
said Bzince pod Javorinou Mayor Jan Kovacovic. About 30 local cities and
townships participated in this year's celebration.
ECONOMY
Electricity And Gas Prices to Rise in August
The maximum prices for natural gas and electrical energy will rise
August 1 by an average of 15 per cent. One cubic meter (39 cubic inches)
of natural gas had cost 2.7 crowns on average, while the new maximum
range is 2.55 crowns to 3.85 crowns, depending on consumption.
Electricity prices, also dependent on consumption, will range from
0.53 crowns per kilowatt-hour (previously this low had been .46
crowns/kWh) to 2.44 crowns/kWh (previously 2.1 crowns/kWh).
Social Security And Poverty Line to Rise October 1
Social security payments will rise October 1 by 340 crowns (8 per
cent) on average, and the poverty line, which determines eligibility for
various forms of public aid, will go up by 7.6 per cent on average (for
a four-member family the poverty line will be 8,820 crowns monthly). The
government decided thusly July 23, and Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus
denied the govenrment's decision was related to Parliament's
then-upcoming vote of confidence in the government.
The average monthly social security payment should reach 4,661
crowns, with the payments having been adjusted in April and the poverty
line adjusted in January. The average monthly Czech wage in 1995 was
about 8,400 crowns.
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from August 2)
country
Great Britain 1 GBP 41.165
France 1 FRF 5.281
Japan 100 JPY 24.657
Canada 1 CAD 19.234
Austria 1 ATS 2.548
Slovakia 100 SKK 87.798
Germany 1 DEM 17.931
Switzerland 1 CHF 21.996
USA 1 USD 26.439
ECU 1 XEU 33.737
SDR 1 XDR 38.747
CULTURE
American Director Terry Gilliam at Summer Film School
Domestic and foreign guests alike are praising the quality of the
program of the 22nd Summer Film School in Uherske Hradiste. This year's
guests include American director Terry Gilliam (Monty Python's Flying
Circus, Brazil, 12 Monkeys) and British director Julien Temple. For the
record number of attendees (about 1,000), the film schedule is being
accompanied by a photo exhibit and concerts, all to last until August 4.
SPORT
Czech Medal Count from Atlanta
The Czech Republic has not remained without reward at its first
Summer Olympics. Medals belong to:
Gold - Stepanka Hilgertova, women's kayak singles (K-1),
Silver - Lukas Pollert, men's canoe singles (C-1); the Barcelona
gold-medalist finished .14 of a second behind 17-year-old Slovak Michal
Martikan,
Silver - Jiri Rohan and Martin Simek, men's canoe doubles (C-2); they
were silver medalists in Barcelona,
Bronze - Miroslav Janus, running-target marksmanship; teammate Lubos
Racansky had earned a bronze in Barcelona
Bronze - Sarka Kasparkova, women's triple-jump; a new Czech record of
14.98 meters,
Bronze - Tomas Dvorak, decathlon, a new Czech record of 8664.
Legendary Goalie Frantisek Planicka Dies
Frantisek Planicka, one of the greatest Czech soccer heroes, died
at 92 July 20 in Prague. Planicka was the last living member of the
Czechoslovak team which captured a silver medal at the 1934 World
Championships in Rome.
Newspaper reports carried the story on the front page, reminiscing
about Planicka's 73 international matches and his lifelong loyalty to
his team, Slavia Praha, for which he played nearly 1,000 games.
Planicka never received so much as a yellow card during his career,
and for his exceptional sense of sportsmanship was awarded the Czech
Fair Play Award (1994) and the UNESCO International Fair Play Award
(1984).
Planicka was considered the world's best goalie in the 1930's.
Karel Poborsky to Manchester United
The most expensive player move in Czech soccer history took place
July 29, when Karel Poborsky, a star of the recent EURO 96, moved from
Slavia Praha to Manchester United for 3.5 million English pounds.
WEATHER
July's last week finally brought summer weather - temperature
records are not falling yet, but the nearly 30 degree Celsius/86 degree
Fahrenheit daytime temperature is a pleasant change from recent cold
days.
Today's Carolina was prepared by Lida Truneckova with contributions from
Viktorie Reschova (funicular) and Ondra Trunecka (confidence vote and
TV broadcast).
English version was translated and edited by Michael Bluhm.
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