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Carolina (English) No 296
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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: (+420 2) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+420 2) 24810987
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 296, Friday, July 3, 1998.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (June 25 - July 1)
Zeman Starts Second Round For Teaming Up Government
After an unsuccessful first round of discussions there ruled an
atmosphere of general disbelief in the possibility of a majority
government put together by Milos Zeman, chairman of election winner the
Social Democrats (It's Almost Certain: Zeman Will Not Create Government!,
was the celebratory headline of the June 27 edition of the Czech daily
Lidove noviny). However, the June 30 meeting of Zeman and former Prime
Minister Vaclav Klaus of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) brought
unexpected changes when the leaders of the two most powerful parties made
it known they can do without the Freedom Union (US) and the Christian
Democrats (KDU-CSL).
A majority government of the Social Demcrats, the Christian Democrats
and the US (which would have 113 seats in the 200-seat Parliament) was
almost certainly taken out of consideration after the July 2 meeting
between Zeman and US Chairman Jan Ruml. This constellation was mostly the
work of Christian Democrat Chairman Josef Lux, who was willing to join
a coalition with the Social Democrats only with the participation of the
Freedom Union. Ruml, however, refused Zeman's offer of four seats in the
Cabinet and said he considers negotiations with Zeman over.
A government of the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats (94
seats) could pass through Parliament with the silent support of the
Communists, but Lux refuses such a coalition.
In order to secure the Freedom Union's support Zeman proposed the
former ODS Vice Chairman Josef Zieleniec as Foreign Minister.
Zieleniec's withdrawal from ODS and Klaus' government in October meant
the beginning of instability on the Czech political scene. Zieleniec is
considered to be close to the Freedom Union.
The Freedom Union over the weekend formulated its terms in order to
join a center-right government into five points: in a new government with
a total of 102 seats (ODS, KDU-CSL, US) no party will have a majority in
the government, the parties will accept responsibility for past and
future financial scandals, the Cabinet will clearly state the reasons for
the economic recession since 1996 and for the collapse of Klaus'
government and will tie itself to the politicies of Prime Minister Josef
Tosovsky's government. ODS is not likely to accept the conditions.
Zeman's political rival Klaus is unexpectably willing to help the
Social Democrat chairman - ODS' leadership passed a resolution which
Klaus described as allowing the possibility, however extreme, of a Social
Democrat minority government. Libuse Kolouchova/Sofia Karakeva
Identical Election Results Not Wrong
The identical number of votes recorded by the neo-Fascist Republicans
(SPR-RSC) and Retirees for Life Security (DZJ) in the counties of
Domazlice, Karlovy Vary and Uherske Hradiste was only a rare coincidence
and not a mistake. That was the verdict of the Central Election
Commission's June 27 extraordinary session. The commission, made up of
representatives of all parties on the ballot, confirmed the results of
the Czech Statistics Office, which is responsible for the accuracy of the
results. The statisticians checked the number of votes again June 26,
when the Central Election Commission was notified by Czech daily MF DNES
that the Republicans and Retirees each tallied 1,295 votes in Domazlice,
2,664 votes in Karlovy Vary and 2,105 votes in Uhereske Hradiste. Vice
Chairman of the Czech Statistics Office Jan Fischer, in a detailed check
of the results, found more coincidences. The Freedom Union, for example,
got the same number of votes (7,739) in three counties - Kolin,
Strakonice and Zdar nad Sazavou. Bohdana Rambouskova/Sofia Karakeva
National Security Council Decides to Reduce Army
In the coming years the Czech Army will face a significant reduction
of 18,000 people to bring the total number of Army personnel to 60,000.
The reduction will mostly concern officials and high-ranking officers, of
whom there is a surplus. The National Security Council made the decision
June 29 during its first meeting. Part of the defense concept will also
be the reduction of the number of soldiers in compulsory service by the
year 2003. "By reducing the number of people money will be saved, which
can then be used for training and investment," said Defense Minister
Michal Lobkowicz (Freedom Union). According to the Czech daily Pravo the
army is going to concentrate on battle preparations and on providing
assistance during disasters and other humanitarian actions. During the
meeting of the National Security Council, discussions centered on
security, defense and army strategy, analysis of the state of the army
air force and materials for Czech NATO membership. Members of the
Security Council include the prime minister, government vice chairmen and
ministers of foreign affairs, defense and the interior. President Vaclav
Havel, who attended some of the meeting, supports the Security Council
and said the institution should offer solutions for crisis situations,
including cases where the nation would be threatened by mass migrations,
organized crime, religious fundamentalism, ethnic clashes and
environmental catastrophes. Bohadana Rambouskova/Sofia Karakeva
ECONOMY
European Commission Finishes Apple-Quota Episode
The European Commission cancelled its measures as of July 1 taken in
response to the recently repealed Czech quota on the import of EU apples.
The Czech daily Pravo quoted an unnamed EU official as saying that
the "litle war" was a demonstration that the EU "will always defend its
interests strongly." Information from the Czech Agriculture Ministry
shows that exports of pork, poultry and apple juices, the items affected
by the EU's measures, have since April 1 dropped by 50 per cent in
comparision with 1997. Czech exporters will again be given preferential
EU import duties, e.g. pork and poultry will have an 80-per-cent break
from standard import duties.
Housing and Public Transportation Prices Rise
July 1 welcomed higher prices for electricity, gas and higher rents
- electricity went up 24 per cent, gas 27 per cent and rents in
state-owned properties by 15 per cent to 41 per cent depending on
location.
The state simultaneously raised certain social payouts designed to
assist poorer families. State pensions also rose, and the average state
pension is now about half the average income. The average state pension
is 5,561 crowns monthly, while average monthly income ranged from 9,559
crowns in eastern Bohemia to 13,003 crowns in Prague, according to the
Czech Statistics Office.
Czech railways prepared another shock for Czech wallets July 1,
raising prices by an average of 22 per cent, while the most affected
prices were those for short distances. Railway management said it wants
to increase prices annually by 17 per cent more than inflation so that by
2002 train and bus prices will be balanced.
Up-and-down Crown
The Czech crown has been on a roller-coaster ride since the
elections. Dealers sobered up from their post-election optimism and the
crown slid June 26 to a rate of 18.29 crowns per Deutschmark. "The
strengthening of the past few days, when the crown went up by half
a crown, turned out to be too strong and investors started taking their
profits," said Jan Dosek of the Czechoslovak Trade Bank to Czech daily MF
DNES. Dealers said the crown had been rising in the wake of the elections
with the hope that a center-right government would be formed with the
Civic Democratic Party, the Christian Democrats and the Freedom Union
which would continue with necessary economic reforms and privatization.
Those hopes markedly declined as Social Democrat Chairman Milos Zeman's
negotiations showed that a new government will not be formed overnight.
In spite of that the crown reached its high for the year July 2, passing
under the barrier of 18 crowns per Deutschmark. David Vlk/Michael Bluhm
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank
(valid July 3)
country currency
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 20.115
Belgium 100 BEF 86.940
Great Britain 1 GBP 54.170
Denmark 1 DKK 4.706
Finland 1 FIM 5.898
France 1 FRF 5.349
Ireland 1 IEP 45.156
Italy 1000 ITL 18.206
Japan 100 JPY 23.385
Canada 1 CAD 22.332
Luxemburg 100 LUF 86.940
Hungary 100 HUF 14.885
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.905
Norway 1 NOK 4.211
New Zealand 1 NZD 16.889
Poland 1 PLN 9.371
Portugal 100 PTE 17.509
Austria 1 ATS 2.549
Greece 100 GRD 10.654
Germany 1 DEM 17.930
Slovakia 100 SKK 92.890
Slovenia 100 SIT 18.969
Spain 100 ESP 21.129
Sweden 1 SEK 4.042
Switzerland 1 CHF 21.333
USA 1 USD 32.646
ECU 1 XEU 35.543
IMF 1 XDR 43.493
CULTURE
Thirty-Third Karlovy Vary Film Festival to Begin
The 33rd Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) International Film Festival will
kick off July 3 in the western Bohemia spa town. The festival, which
holds the prestigious "A" festival ranking, will run for nine days, show
hundreds of films, and welcome starts like Lauren Bacall, Rod Steiger,
Michael Douglas, Tim Roth and John Turturro. Film sections aside from the
traditional competition include documentary, independent films, other
views, horizons, new Spanish film, Variety magazine's critics' choice,
and a tribute to Sergei Eisenstein's documentaries. The center of the
festival is the towering Thermal Hotel, which has five theaters and will
house many of the festival's guests. Michael Bluhm/Michael Bluhm
Musical Jesus Christ Superstar Closes after 1,288 Performances
The Czech version of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar by composer
Andrew Lloyd-Webber and librettist Tim Rice closed in Prague's Spirala
Theater after 1,288 performances. Almost 850,000 spectators attended the
musical, which opened in 1994 and entered the Czech Republic like
a tornado, making musicals one of the most commercially successful forms
of theater in the country. Jesus became an event (some visited more than
100 performances) and set a national record for the number of
performances. New stars were born: Kamil Strihavka as Christ and Dan
Barta in the role of Judas. Spirala is preparing Evita, also by
Lloyd-Webber and Rice. David Vlk/Sofia Karakeva
Summer Concert Season Continues
Prague music lovers have recently begun to savor the variety of
concerts scheduled for this summer - June 29 christened the summer
portion of the Agharta Jazz Festival with a concert by saxophonist
Branford Marsalis in Prague's Lucerna Music Bar. Marsalis is a member of
the American jazz equivalent of the royal family - Barnford is the eldest
of the musician sons of New Orleans pianist Ellis Marsalis, although
younger son and trumpter Wynton, who stands among the major figures in
the current jazz generation, might be the best known. During the break
between sets, Branford confided to the audience that youngest brother
Jason, a drummer, is the best musician in the family. Branford's band in
Prague featured pianist Kenny Kirkland and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts with
bassist Eric Revis. The series of jazz concerts wil continue with the
Charles Lloyd Quartet July 10 and bluesman Scott Henderson July 12.
The dance music scene was rocked June 20 at Prague's Roxy by singer
Natacha Atlas and her six-member band. During her 90-minute show Atlas
brought the crowd to life with her belly dancing, while drawing material
from her solo albums. Atlas also sings with the band Transglobal
Underground, which played at the Deer Moat dance festival three weeks
before Atlas' show. Another of the stars at the Deer Moat, Australian
band Tribal Drift, also took the stage at the Roxy June 17. The band,
which resides in England, bases its dance beats on the sound of the
didgeridoo. Tribal Drift then absolved a number of concerts throughout
the country. Michael Bluhnm/Michael Bluhm
Martin Dejdar Leaving Public Life Because of Lottery
Popular actor and emcee Martin Dejdar announced that he is going to
withdraw temporarily from public life because of the affair surrounding
the Great Chance (Bezva sance) lottery. Dejdar was the main figure
associated publicly with the lottery, which was abandoned for not having
a license from the Ministry of Finance. Lottery tickets cost 500 crowns
and the proceeds were to be given to monument preservation and childrens'
homes. According to an interview Dejdar provided to the Czech daily
Lidove noviny June 25, he is not going to withdraw from the theater, film
or hosting, but he is going to keep such activities to a minimum.
David Vlk/Sofia Karakeva
SPORTS
Novotna Last Czech at Wimbledon
The last representative of Czech tennis in Wimbledon made it through
the quarterfinals. Jana Novotna, seeded third, defeated without much of
a struggle Romania's Irina Spirlea 6-2, 6-3 June 30 and advanced to the
quarterfinals. There she beat talented Venus Williams of the United
States 7-5 and 7-6 and in her fourth Wimbledon semifinal will meet world
number one Martina Hingis of Switzerland, who was born in the former
Czechoslovakia.
Petr Korda, third-ranked in the world and at Wimbledon, advanced to
the quarterfinals June 29 after defeating Dutchman John Van Lottum. He
paid for the win with a strained Achilles tendon suffered at the
beginning of the third set. "At first I thought it was torn. It was
terrible pain," he said. According to Czech Television, his condition
improved and Korda prepared normally for his match against English legal
specialist Tim Henman. Henman, however, defeated Korda quickly July 1 in
the Czech's first Wimbledon quarterfinal, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
Czech doubles players packed their bags, too. Martin Damm (together
with American Grabb) and Cyril Suk (with Australia's Stolle) lost in the
second round, Daniel Vacek (with Russia's Yevgeny Kafelnikov) finished in
the third round. The Czech women did better, as Helena Sukova (with
Sanchez-Vicario of Spain) and Novotna (with Hingis) advanced to the
quarterfinals.
After Deadline: Novotna beat Hingis July 2 6:4, 6:4 and is in the finals
for the third time.
Hasek Defends Hart Trophy and Comes Home for Vacation
Czech hockey goalkeeper Dominik Hasek became the first goalie in NHL
history to win the Hart Trophy twice in a row, accepting his second MVP
trophy in Toronto June 25. He then arrived in the Czech Republic to spend
his two-month holiday with family in Pardubice, where he was born.
In Toronto, Hasek also collected the Vezina Trophy for best goalie,
his fourth in five years, giving weight to the argument that he is the
best goalie today and maybe the best ever. Hasek, who plays for the
Buffalo Sabres, said, "I do not know the cause of my successes. It came
somewhat automatically. I try to catch the puck and if I have no another
chance, I do that how it goes. I am very flexible and I can reach farther
than other players. That is an important part of my style."
Hasek recorded 13 shutouts in 71 games and allowed an average of
2.09 goals per game and also (for the first time in a row) the best save
percentage - 93.2 per cent. He also led the Czech hockey team to the
historic Olympic gold in Nagano's "Tournament of Century."
The Czech evening in Toronto was crowned by Pittsburgh Penguins'
forward Jaromir Jagr, who was second in the Hart Trophy competition
behind Hasek and won the Art Ross Trophy as the player with the most
points in the regular season. Jagr scored 102 points on 35 goals and 67
assists.
Lener Becomes Florida Panthers' Assistant Coach
After long contemplation, one of the architects of the gold medal in
Nagano, coach Slavomir Lener, ended his relationship with the Czech
Hockey Union and accepted an offer from the NHL's Florida Panthers. He
will become the top assistant to coach Terry Murray.
His work with Ivan Hlinka also came to a close, as Hlinka will
remain with the national team. Lener will be the first European coach
with such a position. "I already got a concrete offer from Florida during
the World Championships in Switzerland, and it was really very difficult
to decide," Lener said. He made his final decision after a two-day trip
to Florida. Sports news by David Vlk/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
Prague is pleasantly summer-like, but in northern Moravia healthy
rains fell. The levels of rivers there rose dangerously and unpleasantly
reminded people of the 1997 floods, which happened exactly one year ago.
Dear Readers,
Carolina will be produced during the summer months each fortnight.
You can expect new issues July 17, July 31, August 14, August 28,
September 11 and September 25. The staff wishes you an excellent summer.
English version edited by Michael Bluhm
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