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Carolina (English) No 382
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STUDENTS' E-MAIL NEWS FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Charles University in Prague
Faculty of Social Sciences
Smetanovo nabr. 6
110 01 Prague 1
Czech Republic
e-mail: CAROLINA@mbox.fsv.cuni.cz ISSN 121-5040
tel: (+4202) 22112252, fax: (+4202) 22112219
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
C A R O L I N A No 382, Friday, June 30, 2000.
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (June 21 - June 28)
Senate Passes Amendments to Electoral Act, President Vetoes Changes
The Senate passed proposed changes to the Electoral Act June 23
after a seven-hour debate. In the lower chamber as well the issue had
been the child of the two parties of the Opposition Contract, the ruling
Social Democrats and the Civic Democratic Party (ODS). Both parties
agreed on these changes when they renegotiated the Opposition Contract,
known as the tolerance patent, in January. The proposal adds to present
proportional system majority elements and it would ease the creation of
a majority government with fewer parties. Opponents claim the proposal
favors large parties. According to the proposal, legislators would be
elected in 35 constituencies instead of the present eight and Czech
citizens living abroad would be allowed to vote.
The proposal was passed by 40 of 79 senators, 38 were against and
one abstained. All ODS senators and a majority of the Social Democrats
were for the changes. Senators of the Freedom Union (US), the Christian
Democrats (KDU-CSL), the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), the Communists
(KSCM) and both independents were against.
As expected, President Vaclav Havel did not sign the proposal and
returned it to the Chamber of Deputies. Havel had criticized the
proposal after it was passed by the deputies. He said the proposal
questioned the basis of the two-chamber parliamentary system. "I believe
the senators will realize this and will not cut the branch out from
under themselves and take away the meaning of the Senate by passing such
an abrupt introduction of majority elements into the proportional
system," he said before voting in the Senate.
The Constitution mandates a majority system will be used in
elections to the Senate and a proportional system for the Chamber of
Deputies. "I think changing to such an extent the system of election to
the Chamber of Deputies is legitimate only by a change of the
Constitution of the Czech Republic based on the agreement of a vast
majority of the political representation," said Havel. He said he is is
irritated by the move from proportionality toward the strengthening of
major parties.
The Social Democrats and ODS have 137 Deputies in the Chamber and
it is expected they will override the presidential veto (they need
a simple majority). Opposition senators say they will submit the issue
as a constitutional complaint to the Constitutional Court, which can
repeal a law if it is found to violate the Constitution. If the changes
become law, they would be in effect for elections in 2002.
Veronika Hankusova and Ondrej Maly/Veronika Hankusova and Ondrej Maly
ODS Asks for Investigation of IPB Sale
The fall and the sale of the Investment and Postal Bank (Investicni
a postovni banka, IPB - see Carolina 381) to the Czechoslovak Trade Bank
(Ceskoslovenska obchodni banka, CSOB) has turned into a political
matter. Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Chairman Vaclav Klaus Said the IPB
sale was "a bank robbery that occurred in broad daylight and with the
direct assistance of the state."
According to ODS, the Social Democrat government was misled by
a group of politicians and bankers who had prepared the whole event in
advance to grab a huge part of the banking market in the country. Klaus
also criticized one of his favorite targets, the Czech National Bank
(Ceska narodni banka, CNB).
Prime Minister Milos Zeman described Klaus' words as too strong and
promised to present a detailed account of the IPB case to the Chamber of
Deputies. The report shall be accessible to the public as well.
IPB's largest single shareholder, Japan's Nomura, said June 23: "We
are of the opinion that the entire transaction was not conducted under
fair terms and was not transparent."....
The Securities Commission recommended valuing the IPB shares at
zero. This measure will affect mostly small shareholders and investment
funds holding IPB shares. They might not receive anything in the
liquidation process. Nomura is responsible for bonds of IPB that should
mature at a value of more than 3 billion crowns in future years. It is
not clear who will pay this sum to bondholders, whether CSOB or the
state.
New owner CSOB is evaluating what assets of IPB and its holding
company are actually controlled by the bank.
Lubos Kratochvil/Michael Bluhm, Milan Smid
50th Anniversary of Milada Horakova's Execution Commemorated
A mass in the St. Peter and Paul Church in Prague's Vysehrad
fortress commemorated June 27 the 50th anniversary of the execution of
Milada Horakova, one of the first victims of the political trials after
the Communist takeover in February 1948. The mass was attended by Czech
President Vaclav Havel with his wife Dagmar. Later, a new Horakova
memorial in the Vysehrad cemetery was uveiled, with Cardinal Miloslav
Vlk in attendance. Former political prisoners organized a commemorative
meeting on Zofin Island in Prague with the chairmen of some political
parties. The National Museum opened an exhibit on her life and death.,
Milada Horakova was a Czech patriot imprisoned during the Nazi
occupation. After the end of WWII she became one of the leading
politicians of the Czech National-Social Party, which had opposed the
Communist Party. After February 1948 she retired from political life,
but had still been communicating with exile politicians, supporting the
families of people persecuted by the Communist regime and helping them
escape from the country. In one of the very first political trials she
was sentenced to death and executed despite massive protests from
abroad. Among the people who asked for clemency in her case was Albert
Einstein.
Simon Dominik/Milan Smid
Verheugen Praises Efforts to Join EU
European Commissar for Expansion Guenter Verheugen June 22 met in
Prague with Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman and Chairman of the Chamber
of Deputies Vaclav Klaus. The Czech Republic, according to Verheugen,
has made great progress in preparing to join the EU, progress that
should be reflected in the annual autumn evaluation of the European
Commission. Verheugen mentioned better conditions for investment, while
on the other hand he said he was disappointed by the unsuccessful reform
of the judicial system.
On June 23 Verheugen and Foreign Minister Jan Kavan went to
European Day in Hradec Kralove and to the Prostejov and Prerov
districts.
Veronika Hankusova and Ondrej Maly/Veronika Hankusova and Ondrej Maly
CSSD to Punish Rogue Deputies and Senators
The Executive Committee of the ruling Social Democrats (CSSD)
recommended in its ruling from June 24 to party regional organizations
to consider members' decisions in the vote on changes to the Electoral
Act when the organizations nominate future candidates. Against the
proposal (and thus against the party line) were senators Petr Moravek,
Frantisek Vizek, Milan Stech and Richard Falbr (a union leader who is
not a member of the party), Senate Vice Chairman Jaroslav Musial
abstained and Frantisek Mezihorak and Egon Lansky were absent.
The regional committee in Usti nad Labem issued a statement of
displeasure about the votes of its senators Lansky and Musial and Ivan
Havlicek, who had been against the changes till the last minute but
voted for them, saying he feared the fall of the government. The Civic
Democratic Party (ODS) threatened CSSD with withdrawing from the
Opposition Contract, which made the minority government of the CSSD
possible after the elections in 1998.
Veronika Hankusova and Ondrej Maly/Veronika Hankusova and Ondrej Maly
Prime Minister Zeman Publicly Apologizes to Macek on TV
Prime Minister Milos Zeman apologized June 25 before the TV Nova
discussion show Seven Days to Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Vice Chairman
Miroslav Macek. In the same show several years ago, Zeman called Macek
a thief in connection with the privatization of the Book Wholesale
Company (Knizni velkoobchod). Zeman paid for the commercial time
(28,000 crowns) and the text of the apology was visible for 8 seconds.
Macek said he was satisfied with the apology, which fully shows Zeman's
character: "The way he did it shows he has no sense of fair play."
The apology was ordered by the High Court in Prague in May. Zeman
and his attorney Josef Lzicar did not appeal to the Supreme Court and
decided to comply with the ruling of the High Court. It is the first
time the prime minister showed respect for a court ruling and apologized
to the person he offended.
Veronika Hankusova and Ondrej Maly/Veronika Hankusova and Ondrej Maly
NEWS IN BRIEF
* Refugees from the former Soviet Union who protested with a hunger
strike against the conditions in the refugee camp in Cerveny Ujezd (see
Carolina 381), and tried to get political asylum in Cuba, ended their
protest and moved into another refugee camp in the Czech Republic.
Veronika Hankusova and Ondrej Maly/Veronika Hankusova and Ondrej Maly
FROM SLOVAKIA
President Schuster's Life in Danger
The condition of President Rudolf Schuster, 66, who underwent
emergency surgery on his perforated colon June 19, deteriorated rapidly
June 23. Another operation on his inflammated intestines lasted five
hours, but the infection did not subside, his temperature rose and
Schuster suffered from a lung inflammation June 25.
He then underwent a tracheotomy to provide more oxygen. Czech
doctors, among them Ilja Kotik, the personal physician of the Czech
President Vaclav Havel, were sent to Bratislava June 26. Schuster's
illness worsened June 27, so the Slovak president was transferred by
a special plane June 28 to a hospital in Innsbruck where Havel was
treated two years ago. Schuster's condition remaines serious.
Pavel Korinek/Milan Smid
ECONOMY
GDP Growth Surprising
The Czech Statistics Office released data showing Czech GDP growth
over the first quarter of the year to be 4.4 per cent. The figure was
higher than expected, but Prime Minister Milos Zeman warned against
excessive optimism. Poland's GDP over the same period grew by 6 per
cent, Hungary's by 6.8 per cent.
Lubos Kratochvil/Michael Bluhm
Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid June 30)
--------------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 35.845
country currency CZK
------------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 22.704
Great Britain 1 GBP 57.280
Denmark 1 DKK 4.803
Japan 100 JPY 36.082
Canada 1 CAD 25.540
IMF 1 XDR 50.184
Hungary 100 HUF 13.782
Norway 1 NOK 4.382
New Zealand 1 NZD 17.646
Poland 1 PLN 8.597
Greece 100 GRD 10.655
Slovakia 100 SKK 83.365
Slovenia 100 SIT 17.170
Sweden 1 SEK 4.266
Switzerland 1 CHF 23.049
USA 1 USD 37.761
Exchange Rates of countries participating in the euro
(converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
-----------------------------------------
Germany 1 DEM 18.327
Belgium 100 BEF 88.857
Finland 1 FIM 6.029
France 1 FRF 5.465
Ireland 1 IEP 45.514
Italy 1000 ITL 18.512
Luxemburg 100 LUF 88.857
Netherlands 1 NLG 16.266
Portugal 100 PTE 17.879
Austria 1 ATS 2.605
Spain 100 ESP 21.543
CULTURE IN BRIEF
* The New York Philharmonic, on a tour of Europe, gave two concerts
in Prague June 24-25, performing the Ninth Symphony by Gustav Mahler,
the Seventh Symphony by Anton Bruckner and the Concert for two violas
and orchestra by the contemporary Russian composer Sophia Gubaidulina.
These were the first performances by the New York Philharmonic in Prague
since 1930, when the orchestra was conducted by Arturo Toscanini. This
time Kurt Masur was the conductor of the orchestra. Despite the high
price of tickets both concerts were sold out and received good reviews.
* The 55th International Folk Music Festival took place June 23-25 in
Straznice in southeastern Moravia. Twelve foreign groups from Belgium,
Belarus, Israel, Hungary, Moldova, Germany, Poland, Russia, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine participated in the open-air performance
at the local folk village (skansen) area and chateau.
Simon Dominik/Milan Smid
SPORTS
Czech Players Return from EURO without Glory
The Czech national soccer team returned from the soccer European
Championships June 22 at 2:30 a.m. After being eliminated in the "group
of death," they were welcomed by five fans (later accompanied by those
who arrived from Belgium) and a few journalists.
Some players were not ready to answer questions, Pavel Nedved
said: "Don't be a fool, its 3 a.m.." Jiri Nemec passed the journalists
without a word, while Vladimir Smicer, Jan Koller and Tomas Repka
answered all questions.
The Czech team went through qualification without a point lost,
but it lost 0-1 to the Netherlands and 1-2 to France. After a 2-0 win
over Denmark the Czechs finished third, with only two teams advancing to
the quarterfinals.
Martin Moravec/Mirek Langer
Czech Players Leave Wimbledon in Shame Again
Only two Czechs, Slava Dosedel and Martin Damm, advanced to the
second round of Wimbledon. Dosedel defeated 16th-seed Nicolas Lapentti
of Equador and Damm crushed Dejan Petrovic of Australia in three sets.
The others burned out on the Wimbledon grass. Only Jiri Vanek was
satisfied with his wonderful debut in the All England Club. He played
the opening game on center court against Pete Sampras. He won 10 games.
Vanek said he had hoped not to lose a set at love.
Martin Moravec/Mirek Langer
Draft Causes Big Changes in NHL Teams
The June 25-26 weekend draft in Calgary dramatically changed the
number of Czechs in NHL organizations. In the regular draft 27 Czech
players were chosen, the highest number in the 37-year history of the
draft (the previous high of 21 Czechs was set in the 1995 and 1998
drafts).
Defensman Rostislav Klesla was the top Czech selection, as he was
selected by the expansion Columbus Blue Jackets. Also Ceske
Budejovice's Vaclav Nedorost fit into the top 20 at number 14.
Philadelphia Flyers took the rights to national-team goalkeeper Roman
Cechmanek of Vsetin. The Pittsburgh Penguins choose Roman Simicek,
a 1999 World Champion.
The Blue Jackets seem to be forming a Czech team. Beside Klesl,
David Vyborny, Frantisek Kucera, Martin Spanhel and Jan Caloun are also
on the team. During the expansion draft, Radim Bicanek, Robert Kron and
Martin Streit accompanied them.
The draft also saw many trades. Defensman Roman Hamrlik moves from
Edmonton to the New York Islanders. The Minnesota Wild, the other
expansion team, got Pavel Patera of Dallas. Other Czechs in Minnesota
include Ladislav Benysek, Filip Kuba and Michal Bros.
David Luksu/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* Ivan Hlinka was named the second European coach in the NHL June
21. He was named head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he worked
as coach Herb Brooks' assistant.
* Slovak soccer player Peter Dubovsky, 28, a former Czechoslovak
national team player, died June 23 during his holiday in Thailand. After
a fall from a waterfall he suffered numerous fractures and lost three
liters of blood. The Slovak national team midfield player was one of the
biggest talents of Czechoslovak soccer of the early 90's. He was twice
the top scorer of the federal league while playing in Slovan Bratislava.
He left Slovan for Real Madrid, where he did not play often. He was
playing for Real Oviedo last season.
* Slavia Praha knows its possible opponents in the soccer Champions
League second qualification round. It will meet the winner of the tie
between Skonto Riga (Latvia) and FC Shamkir (Azerbaijan). Drnovice will
play against Buducnost Banovici of Bosnia in the UEFA Cup qualification
round.
* Soccer league clubs decided the Czech league will not be
interrupted by the Sydney Olympics, where the Czech team will
participate.
* Usti nad Labem won the water polo league and is the only team to
win the league since it became the independent Czech league - it won for
the eighth time in a row.
David Luksu, Martin Moravec/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
A sensational scientific discovery was published recently: Our
weather is affected by the performance of Czech soccer players. When the
Czech national team at the EURO was still in the tourney, the heat wave
reached a record level with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius/86
degrees Fahrenheit (see the past Carolina). After Czechs were out of the
tournament, cold winds brought rains and a sudden drop in temperatures
to under 20 degrees Celsius/68 degrees Fahrenheit last week. An
unidentified source said the Czech soccer players were warmly welcomed
by Agriculture Minister Jan Fencl, who said "Boys, you are great, you
have brought us rain and saved our farmers."
David Luksu/Milan Smid
Dear Readers,
Carolina will be issued every two weeks during summer. Summer issues
will have the following release dates: July 14 and 28, August 11 and
25, September 8 and 22.
Carolina wishes you a pleasant summer.
English version edited by Michael Bluhm.
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