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Carolina (English) No 399
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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 399, Friday, December 22, 2000
FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (DECEMBER 13 - DECEMBER
20)
Large Protests against Czech TV Council and New General Director
Strong protests were sparked by the recall of Dusan Chmelicek,
general director of the state-run Czech Television (CT, see Carolina
398). Dozens of CT employees and many Czech artists joined the protests.
They demanded the search for a new general director be stopped and that
the Czech Television Council, which recalled Chmelicek and will choose
his successor, resign. The protesters demanded a change in the election
of council members, who are chosen exclusively by politicians in the
Chamber of Deputies proportionally to the strength of various parties.
The petition Czech Television - A Public Matter was supported by actor
Jiri Bartoska, writer Ludvik Vaculik, director Fero Fenic and
actor-writer Jan Kraus.
The civic groups Thank You, Now Leave!, Impulse 99 and the
Community of Writers joined the initiative. About 300 people protested
in front of CT headquarters in Prague December 19. Discussions between
demonstrators and the council were fruitless.
Six candidates made it to final round of the search for a new
general director. Prime Minister Milos Zeman and his Social Democrats
(CSSD) met to discuss their choice for general director, party Vice
Chairman Vladimir Spidla said he found such political influence normal.
Martina Oplatkova/Sofia Karakeva
After deadline: The council December 20 chose Jiri Hodac as the
station's new general director. CT employees have protested the
selection, the speed of the decision and the manner of the selection.
They formed a crisis staff and released a statement expressing their
fear that the station will lose its independence. Hodac worked in radio
for the BBC and was CT News Director for a few months this year. He was
known for his firing of debate-program host Roman Prorok after a debate
between Zeman and Chamber of Deputies Chairman Vaclav Klaus. The crisis
staff aired their statement on the station's evening news three times
December 20. Demonstrations took place December 21 in Prague, Brno and
Ostrava as tension continued to mount.
Pithart Again Senate Chairman
Current Senate Vice Chairman Petr Pithart (Christian Democrat,
KDU-CSL) became new Senate chairman, December 19, during the
chamber's
first session since the November elections. Pithart received 50 out of
79 votes in the first round. Pithart, 59, was elected the Senate's first
chairman when the Senate began functioning four years ago. In 1998 he
lost the post to Libuse Benesova of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) as
part of the Opposition Contract between ODS and the ruling Social
Democrats. Those two parties, however, lost their majority in the Senate
in the November elections, enabling Pithart's re-election. Pithart,
a historian and persecuted dissident before 1989, was prime minister of
the Czech districts of Czechoslovakia from 1990-92.
Tereza Polachova/Sofia Karakeva
Kopriva, Kunhl and Zantovksy Candidates for Four-Party Leader
The parties of the Four-Party Coaltition have elected during the
past few days their candidates for coalition leader. That individual
should lead the coalition in the 2002 general elections, which the
coalition could win, if the elections results reflect the results of
recent voter-preference polls. The Freedom Union (US) December 15
elected as its candidate party Chairman Karel Kunhl. The Civic
Democratic Alliance (ODA) elected the same day Senator Michael Zantovksy
its candidate for the post. The Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) nominated
Jaroslav Kopriva (see Carolina 398) December 8. The Democratic Union
(DEU) will not propose a candidate; at the December 16 party congress,
Chairman Ratibor Majzlik was re-elected to his post. The coalition
leader should be chosen in January. Jakub Vavruska/Sofia Karakeva
NEWS IN BRIEF
* The Temelin (JETE) nuclear reactor's control system turned off the
reactor December 16 after pumps ceased functioning in the non-nuclear
part of the reactor. The event took place shortly after the State Office
for Nuclear Safety allowed the power plant to increase the level of
performance capacity from 12 per cent to 20 per cent. Temelin supporters
called the event typical for the start-up of a new reactor, while
opponents said the event proves Temelin is unsafe.
* Foreign Minister Jan Kavan December 15 underwent a quadruple bypass
at the General University Hospital in Prague. The minister said he hopes
to return home eight days after the operation and should be able to go
on his scheduled trip to South Africa at the end of January.
* Foreign ministers of NATO member countries decided December 16 in
Brussels that the alliance's 2002 summit will be held in Prague. Czech
politicians across the spectrum and President Vaclav Havel expressed
satisfaction with the decision. The Communists (KSCM) vented displeasure
and anarchist organizations declared plans to demonstrate during the
summit. Martin Roubal, Martina Parizkova, Radim Hladik/Michael Bluhm
SLOVAKIA
Legislature Leaves Interior Minister in Office
The National Assembly left Interior Minister Ladislav Pittner in
office with their December 19 vote. Members of the Movement for
a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) proposed his recall, saying Pittner is not
capable of leading the ministry.
Pittner's recall was proposed by the opposition immediately after
his statement that he would propose a ban on the HZDS if its leaders are
proved to have taken part in past criminal activities by the Slovak
Information Service.
The minister has been criticized for his inability to prosecute
politically motivated crimes from the era when HZDS and Premier Vladimir
Meciar ruled the country. Pittner is also criticized for having done
little to reform state bureaucracy under the conditions set by the EU
for Slovakia's membership. Veronika Pavlu/Veronika Hankusova
Last StB Chief Alojz Lorenc May Not Be Jailed
A Military court in Bratislava decided at a private hearing last
week that the statute of limitations has run out on former secret police
chief Alojz Lorenc's four-year prison sentence for abuse of public
office.
The speaker of the Justice Ministry would not confirm the story.
Lorenc, head of the State Security (Statni bezpecnost, StB), was judged
to have illegally incarcerated about 300 people between autumn 1988 and
November 1989. The military prosecutor said he wants to file a complaint
with the Supreme Court. Eva Hejzlarova/Veronika Hankusova
FROM SLOVAKIA IN BRIEF
* Justice Minister Jan Carnogursky's BMW crashed December 15 in Stare
Hory. Two people died, four more suffered severe injuries. The next day
Carnogursky underwent an operation of the sixth and seventh cervical
vertebrae in the Roosevelt Hospital in Banska Bystrica. The head of the
surgical team Jozef Lohnert said Carnogursky is conscious, but did not
give further details. Eva Hejzlarova/Veronika Hankusova
ECONOMY
Commerce Bank to Get 20-Million-Crown Injection
The government decided December 19 to provide 20 billion crowns to
Commerce Bank (Komercni banka, KB) to cover the rest of the bank's bad
loans in order to speed the privatization of the last state-owned bank.
The total amount of state assistance for the bank thus reached 77
billion crowns. Bank General Director Radovan Vavra said he considers
the approved guarantees sufficient. This injection should help lure
investors and is supposedly definitely the last one from the state.
Eva Hejzlarova/Stepan Vorlicek
Czech Economy Grows Faster
The newest data provided by the Czech Statistics Office December
12 confirm prior optimistic prognoses. The country's gross domestic
product increased by 2.2 per cent in the third quarter compared to the
same period of 1999. The Czech economy is growing thanks to a massive
influx of foreign investments and higher household and state spending.
Many economists warn, however, that growth based on these factors cannot
last.
The Czech economy has for most of the year managed to maintain an
upward trend, now helped by Christmas shopping. One crucial factor for
the GDP increase was revival of industry, which is responsible for as
much as 75 per cent of the growth. The statistics office predicts the
economic growth is likely to continue modestly until the end of the
year, with an estimated growth of 2.7 per cent for the year. Optimistic
forecasts predict a 3-per-cent increase. Less optimistic economists say
the GDP growth was largely influenced by the fact that companies
produced for stock. "GDP growth based on the growth of reserves
definitely does not indicate a healthy basis. Without the reserves, the
result of the GDP would be lousy," said Commerce Bank (Komercni banka,
KB) analyst Jan Vejmelek. Statisticians say stores in industrial
companies grew the most, an indication of artificial growth. The Czech
economy has been, and probably will be, affected negatively by
increasing imports. Martin Roubal/Stepan Vorlicek
Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid December 21)
----------------------------------------------------------
1 EUR = 34.695
country currency CZK
----------------------------------------
Australia 1 AUD 21.106
Great Britain 1 GBP 56.703
Denmark 1 DKK 4.651
Japan 100 JPY 34.227
Canada 1 CAD 25.365
IMF 1 XDR 49.900
Hungary 100 HUF 13.132
Norway 1 NOK 4.267
New Zealand 1 NZD 16.762
Poland 1 PLN 9.048
Greece 100 GRD 10.183
Slovakia 100 SKK 80.131
Slovenia 100 SIT 16.300
Sweden 1 SEK 3.988
Switzerland 1 CHF 22.914
USA 1 USD 38.644
Exchange Rates of countries participating in the
euro (converted from the euro rate)
country currency CZK
----------------------------------------
Belgium 100 BEF 86.007
Finland 1 FIM 5.835
France 1 FRF 5.289
Ireland 1 IEP 44.054
Italy 1000 ITL 17.918
Luxemburg 100 LUF 86.007
Netherlands 1 NLG 15.744
Portugal 100 PTE 17.306
Austria 1 ATS 2.521
Germany 1 DEM 17.739
Spain 100 ESP 20.852
CULTURE IN BRIEF
* Prague Spring Director Oleg Podgorny died from a brain aneurysm
December 14. He had been director of the country's best-known music
festival since being chosen in 1990. His wide experience, acquired
partly as the World Federation of International Music Competitions vice
president, led to the professional management of the Prague Spring. He
instituted radical changes in the organization of the oldest Czech music
festival, and as such kept its prestige as one of the world's leading
classical music festivals.
* About 40 mostly young people gathered December 14 in front of the
Exposition Palace (Veletrzni palac) to demonstrate their opposition to
National Gallery Director Milan Knizak. Students of the Academy of Fine
Arts (AVU) organized the demonstration and accused Knizak of being in
a conflict of interest as director of the gallery and a working artist,
whose works of questionable quality are purchased by the gallery. The
students asked him to resign his function at the National Gallery and at
the academy, where he is a top official. Knizak participated in the
demonstration with a sign reading Get Rid of Knizak! (Pryc s Knizakem!).
* Screenwriter and director Jiri Krecek received the Vladislav
Vancura Award for lifelong achievement. The Czech Film and Television
Association (FITES) and the Czech Literary Fund gave special praise to
his documentary Leaving Exam in November (Maturita v listopadu), which
he originally intended to be a feature film.
Marketa Bartosova/Adam Fendrych
SPORTS
Czechs Perform Well in Baltika Cup
Czech hockey players recorded their first win in this year's Euro
Hockey Tour. In the third tournament of the Tour - the Baltika Cup in
Moscow - they defeated Sweden 4-2 December 17. The players broke out of
their scoring funk and with the support of goalkeeper Dusan Salficky's
great performance earned the victory.
Russia, the reigning world champion, was the second opponent of the
Czech team. The Czechs were leading throughout almost all the December
18 game - in the 37th minute the score was 4-1. Three minutes before the
final whistle Russia's Karpov scored his third goal and tied the game at
4-4. Russia then won the shoot-out, making the final score 5-4.
To confirm their improved offense the Czechs scored six goals in
the last game against Finland December 20 and after a 6-2 win in the
last game the Czechs finished third in the Baltika Cup. The national
team played in Moscow without many stars - Reichel, Prochazka, Vykoukal
and Mikeska were injured, Dopita and Kral rejected invitations to play.
Marie Valaskova/Mirek Langer
Czech Swimmers Win Nine Medals in Short-Track European Championships
The Czech Republic was fourth (behind Sweden, Italy and Germany) in
the Short-Track European Championships in swimming held in Valencia,
Spain. During four days of competition December 14-17, the Czechs
collected three golds, three silvers and three bronzes - the country's
best-ever result.
Ilona Hlavackova, 23-year-old bronze medalist from the European
Championships in Helsinki, won gold medals in the 100m and 50m
backstroke. In the finals, Hlavackova broke the championships record and
with her time of 58.82 seconds finished under one minute for the first
time. The 50m breaststroke men's final finished in a three-way tie for
the first time: Daniel Malek won one of three gold medals with
Germany's Warnecke and Italy's Fioravanti. Malek added a silver medal in
the 100m breast and a bronze in the 200m breaststroke. Jana Pechanova
won two medals, a silver in the 400m freestyle and 800m free. Kvetoslav
Svoboda won two bronzes for the 200m freestyle and the 400m free.
Katerina Kunovska/Mirek Langer
SPORTS IN BRIEF
* Pavel Nedved, midfielder for Lazio Rome, won the fourth annual poll
of journalists and will receive the Golden Ball as the best Czech soccer
player of the year. This year Lazio won the top Italian league and its
cup and Nedved was elected the Czech national team captain. Anderlecht
forward Jan Koller finished second in the poll, beating Sparta Praha's
Tomas Rosicky. The awards ceremony will take place in Pisek January 6.
* Czech skier Katerina Neumannova finished second in the World Cup
event in Brusson, Italy. After an eighth place in the 10km classic
December 16, she advanced to the 1500m sprint final, where only
Finland's Manninen was faster. Neumannova is fourth in the World Cup
overall standings.
* Michaela Vernerova won the bronze medal in the judo World
Championships for students in Malaga in the 57kg category.
Zuzana Boleslavova/Mirek Langer
WEATHER
Winter has arrived. And fast - December 13 was the warmest in
Prague in the last 225 years (a temperature of 14.3 degrees Celsius/58
degrees Fahrenheit was recorded). One week later there half a meter of
snow in the mountains and temperatures in Prague have been below
freezing for most of the past three days.
Dear Readers,
We would like to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah,
enjoyable winter solstice regardless of faith, Happy New Year and
a Happy New Millenium. Carolina's next issue will be released January
12.
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