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Carolina (English) No 248
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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: (+4202) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+4202) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 248, Friday, May 23, 1997.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (May 14-21)
ODS Losing Voters, Social Democrats in Lead
The Institute for Public Opinion Research (IVVM) reported May 14
that during the first week of May, the ruling Civic Democratic Party
(ODS) had fallen farther out of favor than ever before - drawing support
from only 18 percent of the voting population. Twenty-five per cent of
voters support the Social Democrats, putting them clearly in the lead.
Since the 1996 Parliament elections, ODS has lost 12 per cent in voter
preference. Sociologists say ODS has fallen out of favor mainly with
university students and businessmen. The IVVM research showed that voter
support usually has remained within the coalition, shifting mostly to
the Christian Democrats. The Christian Democrats are up to an all-time
voter-preference high, with 14.5 per cent. Ten per cent support the
other coalition party, the Civic Democratic Alliance, 6 per cent support
the Communists and only three per cent support the neo-Fascist
Republicans.
The report shows that the Social Democrats and the Christian
Democrats could fill the government and 108 of 200 seats in Parliament.
The report has ignited talk of early elections and a Social
Democrat-Christian Democrats coalition. Neither party chairman has been
heard opposing the idea.
Michal Schindler/Andrea Snyder
Government Restructuring on Horizon
A dramatic decrease in Civic Democratic Party (ODS) voter preference
has left the Czech press speculating as to what extent Cabinet positions
may change. Trade Minister Vladimir Dlouhy said May 16 he may resign and
invited his ministerial colleagues to do the same. In a television
discussion show, opposition Social Democrat Chairman Milos Zeman
mentioned the possibility of a no-confidence vote in the government.
ODS refuses to appoint new ministers and expects their reform
package will improve the Czech Republic's economy within six months. The
Social Democrats are not as patient as the government. "We promised them
100 days (to evaluate the reforms' effect) and although we believe the
government is inept, we will fulfill that," said Zeman May 15.
Zeman went on to announce that he refuses to tolerate more
government blunders and called for the resignation of five ministers,
including Finance Minister Ivan Kocarnik (ODS) and Dlouhy. The Social
Democrats are to announce their own economic reform plan in a few days.
Michal Schindler/Andrea Snyder
After deadline: Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus announced May 20 that up to
six ministers would lose their jobs, though specific names are to be
announced next week. Dlouhy has confirmed he will leave his post by the
end of the year.
Havel Back from USA
Czech President Vaclav Havel returned May 18 from the a visit to the
USA, where he accepted the European Statesman Award. Havel and his
German counterpart, Roman Herzog, received the prestigious awards at the
Institute for East-West Studies in New York for their individual roles
in the peace process between the two countries.
Havel spoke in the US Congress about NATO expansion problems.
Congress will play an important role in ratifying new members. He also
visited the United Nations, and had dinner with American President Bill
Clinton at Czech-born Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's residence.
When Havel arrived at Prague's Ruzyne Airport, he supported the
current criticisms of the government. He said the crisis is more in the
government's program than in government irresponsibility. Havel added
that "problems should not be solved in sudden packages, packed together
by the government overnight under pressure of the situation, but rather
a measures on the basis of a long-term program." Prime Minister Vaclav
Klaus refused to comment on the president's words, the daily MF DNES
reported.
Vit Bartek and Michal Schindler/Andrea Snyder
Buzkova Tops Popularity Poll
In a survey conducted by The Center for Empirical Research (STEM) at
the beginning of May, 1600 people age 16 and up were asked which
politicians they liked best. Social Democrat deputy leader Petra Buzkova
was clearly the most popular with 78% support. Meanwhile the popularity
of many government politicians fell to an historic low, the biggest drop
being registered by industry and trade minister Vladimir Dlouhy, who at
times has ranked first.
The top ten places in the poll were held by the following
individuals: 1. Petra Buzkova (Social Democrat) at 78 per cent; 2.
Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec (ODS), 61; 3. Stanislav Gross (Soc.
Dem.), 61; 4. Agriculture Minister Josef Lux (Christian Democrat
chairman), 55; 5. Senate Chairman Petr Pithart (aligned with the
Christian Democrats), 51; 6. Parliament Chairman Milos Zeman (Soc.
Dem.), 49; 7. Civic Democratic Party (ODA) Chairman Michael Zantovsky,
46; 8. Trade Minister Vladimir Dlouhy (ODA), 43; 9. Defense Minister
Miloslav Vyborny (Christian Democrats), 41; and 10. Prime Minister
Vaclav Klaus (ODS), 36.
Andy Faust
Screening to Continue
Parliament rejected May 20 the Communist Party of Bohemia and
Moravia's proposal to cancel the practice of screening ("lustration"),
the checking of someone's past for Secret Police and Communist
collaboration. Communist Parliament deputies requested revoking not only
the Screening Act of 1991 but also its later amendments and the later
legal norms concerning the police and Reformatory Education Committee.
They pointed out that the laws have been criticized by some
international organizations.
Some Social Democrats also attacked the laws. Zdenek Jicinsky
(Social Democrat) accused the right of attempting to influence politics
through screening. On the contrary, the far-right Republicans supported
the coalition and, together with government coalition parties, outvoted
the left wing.
Based on screening laws, 280,542 screenings were made from
1991-95, of which 9,522 determined collaboration.
Vit Bartek/Denisa Vitkova
Independent Hemp Growers Met
At the end of the last week, approximately 100 supporters of
soft-drug (e.g., marijuana, hashish) legalization met on Wenceslas
Square in Prague. The meeting, under the auspices of a free association
of people calling themselves "independent hemp growers," aimed to draw
attention to the absurdity to the prosecution of users of illegal drugs,
and asked for "decriminalization of all hemp products by the end of
1997."
"We are not forcing anyone to smoke marijuana, it is not the center
of our life, nor do we consider this the most urgent problem. However,
some in our country are using marijuana as a general pretense for
repression," said Ivo Kachtik, one of the meeting's initiators, in his
declaration addressed to Interior Minister Jan Ruml and the National
Anti-Drug Center Director Jiri Komorous, among others.
According to recently drafted amendments to the criminal code,
soft-drug consumers should, in the future, face at least a misdemeanor
charge, in worse cases the suspension of drivers' or gun licenses, or
a high fine.
Lenka Javurkova/Denisa Vitkova
FROM SLOVAKIA
Slovaks to Vote on NATO and Direct Presidential Election
A referendum about NATO membership and direct presidential election
will be held in Slovakia May 23-4. Voters will answer four questions in
the referendum: Do you support Slovak membership in NATO? Do you agree
with the placement of nuclear weapons on Slovak territory? Do you agree
with the placement of NATO army bases on Slovak territory? Do you agree
with the direct election of the Slovak president?
Slovak politicians think that as for NATO membership, the result of
the referendum is unpredictable. If Slovaks say "no," it may affect the
integration of the country into Euro-atlantic structures. It is,
however, evident already that Slovakia will not be among the first wave
of new members of NATO.
The opposition was especially active on the fourth question,
concerning direct presidential election, because the Slovak government
tried a number of tricks to eliminate it from the referendum. The
Constutional Court, however, rejected any objections to placing the
fourth question in the referendum.
Jan Potucek/Zdenek Janda
Slovak President Not to Run Again
Slovak President Michal Kovac announced in an interview for Radio
Twist May 19 he does not intend to run for re-election presidential next
year. Kovac has been criticized by coalition parties for his support of
the opposition's successful effort to call a referendum on direct
presidential election. Coalition parties claim he wanted to use the
referendum to ensure himself re-election.
Jan Potucek/Zdenek Janda
After deadline: Kovac said he might run, if he were asked to by
a "relevant political force".
ECONOMY
CNB Intervention Should Save Crown
The Czech National Bank (CNB) radically intervened May 16 on the
banking market by increasing the Lombard rate from 14 per cent to 50 per
cent. The measure should shoo away speculative capital and strengthen
the weakened position of the crown.
The crown's dive was stopped May 19 and May 20, but the situation
still means serious danger for economic growth, experts said. "It's
possible to maintain a policy of high rates for a month or longer, but
that will choke off any growth and an ecomonic drop will follow," said
Vladimir Kreidl of Patria Finance May 21 to the daily MF DNES.
The Commerce Bank's answer to the dramatic development by increased
reference rate. The rate, which partially determines deposits and loans,
will double, to 24.6 per cent. Other banks are waiting.
Vit Bartek/Magdalena Vanova
IPB Case Continues
Investment and Postal Bank (IPB) General Director Jiri Tesar and his
deputy Libor Prochazka were set free after 21 days of prison May 20.
The State Attorney's Office decided that there is no longer any
reason to keep either of them behind bars, although the office had
expressed the opposite opinion last week. The reasons for imprisonment
have disappeared, said Prague State Attorney Jan Krivanek, and the two
remain charged but will be free. However, he did not rule out the
possibility that Tesar and Prochazka could face new charges.
Lucie Vackova/Magdalena Vanova
MARKETS AND COMPANIES
* The Prague's Stock Market is falling and falling. The PX-50 index is
being dragged down by the biggest companies, such as SPT Telecom, CEZ
and Commerce Bank (Komercni banka), and crossed the psychological
barrier of 500 points. The index stood at 489.6 after May 20, the
low-water mark since November.
* Motoinvest Director Jan Dienstl, charged in connection with
machinations in Agrobanka, was set free from jail, though charges were
not dropped.
* Banka Hana General Director Pavel Rucky resigned, not offering an
explanation for the public.
* Brno Fairs and Exhibits declared net profits of 170 million crowns,
with a turnover of 1.94 billion crowns. The general meeting decided that
per-share dividends will be 90 crowns.
* The Wealth Fund (Fond bohatstvi) of the First Investment Company
ended 1996 with a 674-million-crown loss, mainly becouse of overvaluing
stocks. The loss will be covered from their capital fund over the next
seven years.
* Bicycle-maker Favorit had to lower share capital by 40 per cent to
cover past losses. Last year, for the first time in three years, the
company did not end up in the red.
Martin Cermak/Matej Cerny
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid from May 22)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 23.584
Belgium 100 BEF 87.062
Great Britain 1 GBP 50.298
Denmark 1 DKK 4.720
Finland 1 FIM 5.954
France 1 FRF 5.331
Ireland 1 IEP 46.601
Italy 1000 ITL 18.253
Japan 100 JPY 26.643
Canada 1 CAD 22.248
Luxemburg 100 LUF 87.062
Hungary 100 HUF 16.814
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.987
Norway 1 NOK 4.313
New Zealand 1 NZD 21.089
Poland 1 PLN 9.656
Portugal 100 PTE 17.863
Austria 1 ATS 2.553
Greece 100 GRD 11.307
Slovakia 100 SKK 91.203
Germany 1 DEM 17.971
Spain 100 ESP 21.357
Sweden 1 SEK 4.040
Switzerland 1 CHF 21.588
USA 1 USD 30.359
ECU 1 XEU 35.101
IMF 1 XDR 42.481
CULTURE
Another Film Based on a Viewegh Bestseller Released
Bringing up Girls in Bohemia (Vychova divek v Cechach), the second
movie based on a novel by successful young Czech writer Michal Viewegh
this year, had its big-screen premiere May 15.
First-time director Petr Koliha said it is a film for the public,
about love, relationships and a death on the basis of the postmodern
novel. The story is about a young teacher who accepts an offer from the
millionaire Kral, who asks him to teach his extravagant daughter
creative writing. Ondrej Pavelka, Anna Geislerova (known from Jan
Sverak's film The Ride) and Slovak actor Milan Lasica star in the movie.
The first adaptation of a Viewegh novel, The Wonderful Years of
Living Lousy (Bajecna leta pod psa), has been in cinemas since April.
Pavel Novak/Jan Majer
International Theater Festival in Hradec Kralove
The third year of the festival Theater of European Regions started
in Hradec Kralove May 17. Twenty-six ensembles, among them 11 from
abroad, are taking part in the festival, which ends May 25.
The festival was opened by the play Dragon (Drak) performed by the
Russian theater Near the Bridge (U mostu) from Perm. Other foreign
ensembles came from Belgium, Slovakia, Sweden, Germany, France and the
USA. The most significant guest of the festival is Israeli-Czech writer
and Hradec Kralove native Viktor Fischl (Talks with Jan Masaryk, The
Court Jesters, Farewell to Jerusalem). The festival program will be
closed with the most successful Czech staging of 1996, J.A. Pitinsky's
variation on Bernhard's play Ritter, Dene, Voss, performed by Prague's
Theater on the Balustrade (Divadlo na Zabradli).
Lucie Vackova/Milan Smid
Exhibit of Contemporary Chinese Art in Prague
The exhibit entitled The Face and Body of the Middle Kingdom is the
first representative review of contemporary Chinese art in the Czech
Republic, presenting selected works from some of the most famous Chinese
avantgarde artists of the 90's.
At first sight, most of the works seem to be inspired by western art
trends, but modified with a special Chinese accent. The theme of the
exhibit - the human body and face - reflects the dominance of these
themes in today's Chinese art.
The exhibit is taking place in Prague's Rudolfinum and presents
a unique possibility to see at least once the art of such a distant
cultural milieu.
Vit Bartek/Sofia Karakeva
SPORTS
Wesemann Wins Jubilee Course de la Paix
Cyclist from the German professional team Telekom's B-team Steffen
Wesemann won the 50th running of the Course de la Paix (Peace Race). The
German representative won three of 10 stages in the race and won the
race for the third time. His teammate Henn finished second and another
German, Voigt, representing the Czech-Australian team ZVVZ Giant, was
third. Kejval was the top Czech finisher, as he finished eighth, 7:49
minutes behind the winner. Kejval started the race as a ZVVZ Giant
member after spending the last two years suspended for doping. Trkal was
the best cyclist in the Czech national squad's uniform, he finished
20th and lost more than 22 minutes to the winner.
The most famous cyclist of all time, Eddy Merckx from Belgium, was
present at the winner's ceremony in Brno for the first time.
Mirek Langer/Mirek Langer
Slovak-Czech Match Postponed till August 24
The soccer World Cup 1998 qualification match between Slovakia and
the Czech Republic will be played August 24. The match had been planned
for May 21, but the UEFA Cup final match fell on the same day. In this
match, Inter Milan and Schalke 04 played, and Czech representatives
Nemec and Latal play for Schalke. The German team leaders initiated the
change because they feared the absence of both players. The Czech Soccer
Union accepted one of the three dates which Slovakia offered, and the
international soccer federation FIFA accepted the date.
The Czech national team will play its next qualification match June
8 in Spain.
Nemec and Latal played the whole match in the UEFA Cup final and,
after penalty shots, their Schalke side won the trophy.
Mirek Langer/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* The NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs have taken an interest in both Czech
players nominated for the All-Star team at the World Championships:
Vladimir Vujtek and Martin Prochazka.
* Czech Republic results in the handball world championships in Japan:
loss to Egypt 22-24, victory over Brazil 24-10.
* Last year's champion Slavia Praha and second-league champ Dukla
Praha will play the Czech national soccer cup final June 15.
* Czech tennis player Jana Novotna lost in the semifinals in Rome to
Mary Joe Fernandez from the United States.
* The Czech Republic lost matches with Croatia and Australia in the
men's tennis World Cup in Dusseldorf, Germany.
* Retired Czech tennis player and one-time ATP top-10 member Karel
Novacek, together with Sweden's Mats Wilander, were suspended for three
months for using cocaine, after they withdrew their appeal against the
International Tennis Federation's decision.
* About 10,000 people took part in the popular march to the village of
Prcice May 17, with routes ranging from 22 kilometers to 70 kilometers.
Mirek Langer/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
At the end of the week and especially on the weekend, sunglasses,
sunburned shoulders and noses and melting ice cream were the order of
the day. People in the streets were peeling off any clothes that were
not essential as they tried to escape the burning rays and 30-degree
Celsius/86-degree Fahrenheit heat by fleeing into the shade of wine bars
and blooming trees. The work week was marked, on the other hand, by
omnipresent gray skies, showers and frowning faces, which slowly lost
their first tan and all their encouraging summer humor.
Simona Malkovska/Andy Faust
English version edited bz Michael Bluhm
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