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Carolina (English) No 224
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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
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 224, Friday, November 22, 1996.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (November 13-20)
ODS Takes First Round
The Civic Democratic Party (ODS) was the clear winner in the first
round of Senate elections November 15-6. Of the original 80 ODS
candidates, 76 moved on to the run-off elections of November 22-3. It is
also necessary to add that three ODS garnered the necessary 50 per cent
of first vote and are thus already senators - these include former
Prague mayor Milan Kondr, current Mayor Jan Koukal and Deputy to the
Interior Minister Vladimir Zeman. Jan Zahradnicek now holds a Senate
seat in Brno, though speculations are, however, that the victory of
Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak Peoples' Party (KDU-CSL) member
Zahradnicek was in part due to ODS removing their candidate from the
ballot shortly before the election. Although the Czech Social Democratic
Party is the strongest of the opposition parties, only 48 of their 79
candidates made it to the final round. Seventeen KDU-CSL members, seven
for the Civic Democratic Alliance candidates, four Communists, one from
the Democratic Union and one independent also enter the second round.
Candidates who did not pass into the next round of Senate elections
include post-1989 Foreign Minister Jiri Dienstbier, former defense
minister Antonin Baudys, Communist actress Helena Ruzickova and
sexologist Radim Uzel.
The 81-chair Senate is Parliament's second chamber, with an age
minimum for senators of 40. Unlike Parliament elections, Senate
elections are conducted through public voting in two rounds. If one
candidate does not win in the first round with a simple majority, the
two candidates with the most votes pass into the second round. Total
results of the 81 districts may be found at http://www.volby.cz.
David Simonek/Andrea Snyder
Voters Down by Third
Only 35.3 per cent of registered voters turned out at the polls
at the first round of Senate elections November 15-6. The highest rate
was 50 per cent in Prague 1, the lowest at 20 per cent in Chomutov. In
1990, 97 per cent of the voting population turned out for Parliament
elections, 85 per cent in 1992, and this spring only 76 per cent. Even
the blackest forecasts predicted at least 60 per cent voter
participation.
Political scientists explain that with the second elections of the
year people are not convinced about the importance of a Senate and have
been disappointed by politicians. Fascist Republican Chairman Miroslav
Sladek could call the 30 per cent rate a victory. His party did not run
in the elections and he publicly asked supporters not to vote.
Greater voter participation is expected in round two, because of the
threat of ODS hegemony in the Senate. Although voters are not happy with
the creation of a new parliamentary chamber, the voting law does not set
a limit beneath which the election results would be invalid.
David Simonek/Andrea Snyder
Klaus Telephone Calls Subject to Criticism
Jan Kalvoda and Josef Lux, leaders of coalition parties Civic
Democratic Alliance (ODA) and Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak
People's Party (KDU-CSL) respectively, consider phone calls from ODS
Chairman and Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus to unsuccessful ODA and
KDU-CSL Senate candidates about their possible support of the ODS
candidate in the second round of the Senate elections a violation of
political principle and an attempt to influence the internal affairs of
other political parties. Klaus rejected the accusation, referring to the
fact that the approached candidates took the phone calls as merely
a discussion or a fact-finding conversation than as any attempt to
influence their positions.
The day after the first round of the Senate elections, Klaus invited
both coalition leaders to lunch and proposed a joint declaration about
central support for ODS candidates in election districts where they face
Social Democrat or Communist rivals. Lux and Kalvoda rejected this
proposal as unthinkable, though they will not rule out possible
cooperation on the local level. One of the reasons why Lux and Kalvoda
refused to demonstrate publicly the coalition unity which could secure
ODS second-round success lies in the fact that some ODA and KDU-CSL
candidates are in the run-off against an ODS rival, and thus centrally
declared support of ODS could diminish their chances of gaining support
from other electoral segments.
Miroslav Grebenicek, chairman of the Communist Party, has confirmed
that he will call on Communist voters to support the Social Democrat
ballot in the second round. Milos Zeman, chairman of the Social
Democrats, avoided a specific statement pertaining the issue of
cooperation with the Communist Party, though he strongly rejected any
support for any ODS candidate. When asked about ODS position in the
Karvina district, where Communist and Social Democratic candidates are
left, Klaus produced a similarly vague statement, indirectly calling for
abstaining from the election in that district.
Jan Majer/Milan Smid
November 17 Anniversary in Shade of Senate Elections
Because of the Senate elections, the public and media almost ignored
the six-year anniversary November 17 of the 1989 so-called Velvet
Revolution. Political leaders celebrated the events of year 1989, but
the front pages of the main Czech dailies did not pay any attention to
them.
Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, representatives of the two smaller
coalition parties (Jan Kalvoda and Josef Lux), Prague Mayor Jan Koukal
and a Social Democrat delegation led by Chairman Milos Zeman put flowers
under the memorial plaque located at the place where peacefully
demonstrating students were cruelly beaten by state forces November 17,
1989. President Vaclav Havel, who was ill, was represented by head of
the Czech Republic President Office Ivan Medek.
Ondra Provaznik/Katerina Zachovalova
President's Illness Delays Ukraine Visit and Meeting with Zeman
President Vaclav Havel, suffering from pneumonia after the first
round of the Senate elections, had to cancel his visit of Ukraine
planned for November 19. Havel's illness also caused the cancellation of
his meeting with Milos Zeman, Chairman of Social Democrats, announced
for the last week of November. Zeman wanted to inform the president
about politicians being shadowed by the Security and Information Service
and the Ministry of the Interiors (see Carolina 223).
Jakub Prochazka/Katerina Zachovalova
Zeman's Statements Could Cost Social Democrats 5 Million Crowns
Former Security and Information Service (BIS) chief Stanislav Devaty
filed a suit against the Czech Social Democratic Party November 14,
because of Chairman Milos Zeman's statements. Devaty is asking for 5
million crowns, because the leader of the most powerful opposition
party, accused the BIS of attempting to follow and discredit some
opposition and coalition politicians. According to Zeman, the BIS tried
to establish special operative units for these activities (see Carolina
223).
Devaty rejected this accusation, and said he considers Zeman's words
an attempt to accuse him of establishing a police state. He thinks his
broken reputation can be recovered only by bringing this case to court.
Zeman argues that he can prove his accusations with a 50-page document.
Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, responding on November 17's post-election
debate on Czech Television, said there must be a small secret police
service owned by the Social Democrats if Zeman has a 50-page document on
the BIS. Of course, Zeman categorically denied it.
Matej Cerny/Katerina Zachovalova
Republican Chairman Miroslav Sladek Charged by Chamber of Deputies
According to Parliament's Mandate and Immunity Committee, Chairman
of the neo-Fascist Association for the Republic-Republican Party of
Czechoslovakia Miroslav Sladek will have to pay a penalty in the amount
of 43,700 crowns for his statement regarding Romanies (Gypsies), which
angered deputies and the public during a June Parliament session. In
connection with a debate about lowering the age of criminal
responsibility, Sladek then said, quoting an unnamed citizen, that
Romany children should be criminally liable from birth, because their
birth is their biggest crime.
The Republican chairman will become the first deputy charged for his
behavior in Parliament and the amount, equal to one month's salary, is
the highest possible penalty which could be given by the committee.
Sladek has the possibility to appeal the punishment within 15 days.
In this case the penalty will be discussed by the Chamber of Deputies,
the lower house of Parliament.
Ondra Provaznik/Katerina Zachovalova
Smog Regulation of Traffic in Prague Brings Collapse
The smog regulation proclaimed by the Prague City Hall November 13
from 6 a.m. till 2 p.m. brought only collapse, as police and drivers
said. The regulation should have aided the smog situation in downtown
Prague. No car could enter the downtown and the drivers got stuck in
several-kilometer-long lines in the suburbs. Health officials admitted
that the regulation went only towards worsening the air in the suburbs
of Prague.
Prague Mayor Jan Koukal blames the mass media for the collapse
because they did not inform the public. The media and the police accused
City Hall in return, saying they were not appropriately acquainted with
the decision in advance. Czech Television and the Czech Press Agency did
not receive any fax information about it.
People also needed several hours to get to work November 20. Most of
them knew nothing about the regulation. In the traffic jam a very
stressful atmosphere ruled. "I was driving from Bohnice (a Prague
suburb) shortly after 6 a.m. and I thought it was some kind of training.
I had passed all the barriers when the police stopped me. Then I thought
it was serious," said one of the upset drivers to daily MF DNES. Also
the Emergency Service had problems with the regulation and policemen
said they have never been verbally attacked as often as that day.
Marketa Kropacova/Magdalena Vanova
If Bosnia Mission Continues, Soldiers Will Get Four Helicopters
If NATO asks Czech IFOR troops to continue their mission in Bosnia
through the next year, and if Parliament accepts this request,
widespread changes will take place in the unit, said top Defense
Ministry officials to daily MF DNES November 14.
The troops, which number 1,000 soldiers, should be reduced to 700
men and become equipped with updated weapons. The unit might then be
strengthened with four Mi-24 combat helicopters.
David Vlk/Magdalena Vanova
Two Pilots Die in Army Airplane Crash
Two Czech army pilots died in the crash of an Russian-made army
MiG-23 airplane, which malfunctioned for unknown reasons near the
village Heralec November 19.
It is the second crash in November, and the fourth this year (see
Carolina 222). According to the words of Czech pilots, the old planes
really are unsafe and the army does not have enough money for
maintenance. One Czech officer told daily MF DNES: "The Ministry of
Defense doesn't take our warning seriously that the absence of money for
spare parts, repairs and also fuel can lead to a series of disasters."
Jakub Prochazka/Zuzana Kawaciukova
Tragedy on Nile River
A Nile River tour boat, The Princess Dzihani, sank near the Egyptian
town of Idfu on the evening of November 14 with 61 Czech tourists on
board. The boat ran aground in a strong storm and capsized onto one
side. The majority of passengers escaped but four Czechs, two Slovaks
and one Pole died in the accident. There are three Czechs, four Slovaks
and six Egyptians missing. Disengagement work is taking place at the
disaster site without interruption, because the boat is two-thirds under
water.
Thirty-seven surviving Czech tourists arrived in Prague during the
weekend, together with four slightly injured people. They commended the
work of the Czech consulate and travel agencies, which found them food,
clothing and a way home.
Karolina Cebrovska/Zuzana Kawaciukova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Government Snatches Away Press Accreditation
The Office of the Slovak Government took press accreditation away
from four of seven journalists who allegedly learned at a meeting with
President Michal Kovac that Premier Vladimir Meciar is in ill health.
Slovak newspapers reported the story November 20.
The Premier accused the president of spreading false information
about Meciar's health, saying that at least three journalists had proof
of the opposite. Not one of the seven journalists supported Meciar's
statements, instead implicating the premier of spreading false
statements.
Dusan Valek of TV Markiza, Ales Kratky of the daily Novy cas, Martin
Krn of the daily Pravda and Karol Lovas of Radio Twist had their
accreditations revoked. The other three did not have press
accreditation. Government spokeswoman Ludmila Bulakova said the
publications and stations had not been discredited, just the journalists
themselves, with whom the government has not had good experiences. Novy
cas, the most-read daily in Slovakia, intends after these events to
return its accreditation also for commentator Peter Skorna.
Jan Potucek/Andrea Snyder
Slovaks Demonstrate
November 17 in Slovakia celebrations reminded observers of the 1989
revolution they were commemorating. Slovak citizens expressed their
discontent with their government in at least 20 places. The largest
demonstrations were held in Bratislava, Zilina, Kosice and Prievidza.
Slogans like "V. Meciar and I. Lexa - the two biggest and malignant
tumors on the body of Slovakia" and "Even a compass already knows we
want to go into NATO!" were waved on signs and shouted.
Demonstrations began November 7, when university students began to
protest the university law under preparation, which, among other things,
would divide Kosice's P.J. Safarik University (see Carolina 223). About
10,000 people were estimated to have attended the largest demonstration
November 14 with, except for the Democratic Left Party, opposition
leaders in attendance. The Blue Coalition and the Let's Save Culture
Forum organized the event, where representatives of the Hungarian Party
marched side by side with the the Social Democrats. Even President
Michal Kovac sent a telegram of support to the Let's Save Slovakia
demonstration.
Jan Potucek/Andrea Snyder
SLOVAKIA IN BRIEF
* The Slovak government November 13 approved the 1997 budget, which
forecasts a 36.9 billion Slovak crown deficit. Total income is set for
170 billion crowns, and expenses for 206.9 billion crowns.
* Director of the Slovak National Gallery Juraj Zary resigned November
15, in a statement of his disapproval for Culture Minister Ivan Hudec.
The gallery is the second large cultural institution to speak out
against the Ministry of Culture.
* Finance Minister Sergej Kozlik denies that the Slovak Utilities
Company is not paying its loan to the Czechoslovak Trade Bank
(Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka). He says that all precisely identified
loans have been paid.
* The General Loan Bank (Vseobecna uverova banka), the largest bank
in Slovakia, has shown a 1.31 billion Slovak crown loss for the last
nine months.
Jan Potucek/Andrea Snyder
ECONOMY
Skoda Octavia Places Internationally
A council made up of 60 leading automotive writers awarded the Mlada
Boleslav product, the Skoda Octavia, fourth place in the 1997 Car of the
Year competition 1997. The French Renault Megan Scenic took first.
Zdenek Janda/Andrea Snyder
MARKETS AND COMPANIES
* The index PX 50 finally noted, after a remarkably long decline,
a turn for the better. At the beginning of this week, it rose to 499.9
points November 20. However, the initial enthusiasm gradually seems to
have dissipated, the prices of a few significant stocks have already
stopped increasing, some of them have even resumed their slide. Analysts
are not able to determine if Senate elections are influencing the market
volatility.
* During the next week, an independent Securities Commission should
be appointed to supervise primarily the transparency of the Czech
capital market. The commission will be instituted by a special law which
is now to be prepared and consulted, partly with foreign specialists.
* The management of Zivnostenska banka is not satisfied with the
economic results of the bank. September 30 the bank showed a gross
return of 269 million crowns, which is less than the last year at the
same time. Shareholders should still receive the promised dividend of
180 crowns per share.
* Compared to the disappointed Zivnostenska bankers, the captains
of the biggest Czech chemical company can be highly satisfied. During
the first three quarters of this year, Chemopetrol Litvinov has made
gross profits of 1.28 billion crowns at turnover of 12.4 billion crowns,
which approximately corresponds to this year's plans. Oil-chemical
products have covered 80 per cent of the turnover.
* Funds administered by the Sporitelni investicni company have
gained control of well-known hat factory TONAK in Novy Jicin, when they
increased their share in the company to 77 per cent, buying it from
other owners.
Martin Cermak/Denisa Vitkova
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from November 22)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Great Britain 1 GBP 44.889
France 1 FRF 5.257
Japan 100 JPY 23.890
Canada 1 CAD 19.928
Austria 1 ATS 2.529
Slovakia 100 SKK 86.949
Germany 1 DEM 17.797
Switzerland 1 CHF 21.066
USA 1 USD 26.661
ECU 1 XEU 34.200
SDR 1 XDR 38.958
CULTURE
Luciano Pavarotti Will Sing In Prague
On December 22 in Prague's Sportovni hala, the PropagArt Agency, in
cooperation with the International Music Festival Prague Spring, will
present a concert by one of the world's greatest singers, Italian tenor
Luciano Pavarotti.
Owners of the most highly priced tickets will be allowed into
a welcome party before the concert and a gala reception after
Pavarotti's performance, both in the Spanish Hall of Prague Castle. The
price of tickets is from 1,250 crowns to 5,750 crowns, VIP tickets cost
9,750 to 39,750 crown (the average wage in the Czech Republic is
approximately 9,000 crowns per month).
The basis of the artist's repertoire consists of opera arias of the
old masters (Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Leoncavallo), which Pavarotti will
perform in Prague as well.
Petra Rubesova/Denisa Vitkova
Prague Is Not Kafka and Werfel Only
The exhibition running from November 13 to December 8 in Prague's
Hollar Gallery tries to remind visitors that Prague was a place of
culture confrontation in the past, and that among so-called Prague
Germans, not only famous German-Jewish writers like Gustav Meyrink,
Franz Kafka, Rainer M. Rilke and Paul Leppin, but also a generation of
remarkable graphic artists was present.
Hugo Steiner-Prag, the most popular of presented artists, became
famous as the illustrator of Meyrink's book Golem. Friedrich Feigel
illustrated Paul Leppin's novel Severin's Journey into the Dark, and the
collection of his lithographs includes pictures from the life in
Prague's Jewish ghetto. Egon Adler, whose work was influenced by Cubism
and Italian futurism, is introduced by his collection of colored
graphics called Old Prague. Other exhibited works are by traditionalist
Carl Thiemann and Walther Klemm as well as Maxim Kopf and Julius
Pfeifer, who impresses with his Gustav Klimt-like precision.
Martin Cermak/Milan Smid
Slovak Documentary Paper Heads Enters Cinemas
The new film from Slovak director Dusan Hanak was named after the
paper masks of Communist leaders used in a post-1989 happening in
Bratislava. This theme symbolizes the whole documentary - a reflection
on freedom and non-freedom, the relationship between citizens and power.
Hanak created an interesting picture about Czechoslovak history with
the help of French, German, Swiss and Czech co-producers. The Prague
Film Academy graduate gained recognition with his films: I Love, You
Love (Ja milujem, ty milujes), 322, Quiet Pleasure (Ticha radost'),
Private Lives (Sukrome zivoty), Pink Dreams (Ruzove sny) and Pictures
from the Old World (Obrazy stareho sveta). Paper Heads (Papierove hlavy)
was also awarded at several festivals. Realistic confession sequences on
Communist times, which went away not too long ago, are alternated with
propaganda films from 1945-89, archive footage and often shocking
stories of witnesses. Thus it still has something to say to Czech and
Slovak viewers - it was not an accidental step to organize the gala
premiere on November 17.
Vit Bartek/Katerina Zachovalova
SPORT
Czech Soccer League
Results of the 13th round (November 15-7): Slavia - Olomouc 3-0,
Karvina - Sparta 1-2, Zizkov - Drnovice 0-1, Teplice - Liberec 1-2,
Opava - Plzen 0-2, Jablonec - Ostrava 3-3, Hradec - Bohemians 1-0,
Budejovice - Brno 2-1
Standings after the 13th round (not complete): 1. Liberec 25, 2.
Drnovice 24, 3. Slavia 22, 4. Sparta 20, 5. Brno 20, 6. Budejovice 20,
7. Ostrava 19, 8. Jablonec (-1) 18, 9. Olomouc 18, 10. Opava 18, 11.
Teplice 15, 12. Plzen 14, 13. Hradec Kralove 12, 14. Karvina 12, 15.
Zizkov 9, 16. Bohemians (-1) 8.
Czech Hockey Extraleague
Results of the 20th round: Slavia - Trinec 6-3, Ceske Budejovice
- Sparta 6-4, Vitkovice - Jihlava 6-3, Zlin - Olomouc 3-3, Pardubice
- Opava 3-1, Litvinov - Plzen 4-4. Match Kladno - Vsetin postponed.
Results of the 21st round: Sparta - Litvinov 8-1, Vsetin - Ceske
Budejovice 2-2, Kladno - Jihlava 4-1, Trinec - Zlin 5-2, Opava - Slavia
2-4, Plzen - Pardubice 1-1, Olomouc - Vitkovice 1-2.
Standings after the 21st round (not complete because of postponed
Sparta matches - see Carolina 220) : 1. Vitkovice 28, 2. Vsetin (-1)
26, 3. Pardubice 26, 4. Trinec (-1) 25, 5. Budejovice 21, 6. Kladno
(-1) 21, 7. Sparta (-4) 20, 8. Litvinov 20, 9. Slavia 19, 10. Zlin 18,
11. Plzen (-1) 18, 12 Opava (-1) 15, 13. Olomouc (-1) 14, 14. Jihlava
13.
WEATHER
The weather was untypicaly mild and fine until the editorial
deadline November 20, but it is getting cold today (November 22), the
day of Carolina distribution. Prague is still free from snow, but there
is a white landscape in some places in the mountains.
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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Phone-- 42/2/2481 0804
Fax-- 42/2/2481 0987
When e-mailing, please include a regular mailing address so an
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