CCCCC AA RRRRR OOOO LL II NN N AA CC AA A RR R OO O LL II NNN N AA A CC AA A RRRRR OO O LL II NN N N AA A CC AAAAAA RR R OO O LL II NN NN AAAAAA CCCCC AA A RR R OOOO LLLLLL II NN N AA A 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 206, Friday, June 7, 1996. FORM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (May 29 - June 5) ELECTION NEWS Czech parliamentary elections were held May 31-June 1 ODS Wins Elections, Coalition Loses Parliamentary Majority Although the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) won the first parliamentary election in the independent Czech Republic, the governing coalition lost its majority in Parliament. The coalition made up of ODS, the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA), and the Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL) tallied 99 seats in the 200-seat Parliament. ODS garnered 3 per cent more votes than the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD), which is still celebrating its unexpected success. It will now be impossible to make up a government without the support of or a silent agreement with the Social Democrats. The Czech-Moravian Communist Party and the far-right Association for the Republic-Czechoslovak Republican Party also climbed over the 5-per-cent barrier necessary to enter Parliament. With 76.41 per cent of the voting population at the booths, voter participation was down by 10 per cent from 1992. Twenty political parties and movements were registered for the election, though only 16 parties later paid the mandatory election collateral necessary for printing their ballots. Results of General Elections: Civic Democratic Party (ODS) 29.62 per cent (68 seats) Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) 26.44 per cent (61 seats) Czech-Moravian Communist Party (KSCM) 10.33 per cent (22 seats) Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party (KDU-CSL) 8.08 per cent (18 seats) Association for the Republic-Czechoslovak Republican Party (SPR-RSC) 8.01 per cent (18 seats) Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) 6.36 per cent (13 seats) Parties and Movements not to Be Represented in Parliament: Retirees for Life Security (DZJ) 3.09 per cent Democratic Union (DEU) 2.80 per cent Free Democrats-Liberal Social National Party (SD-LSNS) 2.05 per cent Left Bloc 1.40 per cent Another six parties or movements did not surpass the 1-per-cent barrier (e.g. Independents 0.5 per cent, Czech-Moravian Union of the Center 0.45 per cent). Matej Bartosek/Andrea Snyder Most Likely Solution - Minority Government of Current Coalition After President Vaclav Havel's talks with the heads of ODS, ODA, KDU-CSL and CSSD, the most likely solution of the gridlocked post-election situation seems to be a minority government made up of the current coalition (ODS, ODA, KDU-CSL). However, this government would have to rely on the support of at least a part of the opposition, probably CSSD. The current government coalition would be optimal, said Havel after talks June 2 to Czech daily Lidove noviny. "But it is unthinkable, without a clear discussion with the party that got the second-highest number of seats, and without permanent discussion with them about the method and conditions of its supporting for such a coalition," Havel said. However, it will probably be difficult to reach an agreement between the coalition parties and the opposition. The Communists and the Republicans are unacceptable for any coalition, and the Social Democrats condition their support of a government to meeting certain personnel and policy demands. CSSD Chairman Milos Zeman June 3 rejected Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus being reappointed, but one day later he would not rule out such a possibility. But Zeman continues to demand that ministers Jindrich Vodicka (Labor and Social Affairs), Jan Ruml (Interior), Karel Dyba (Economy) and Igor Nemec (without portfolio) not be part of a new government. ODS refuses to accept these attempts to dictate the composition of the government. The Social Democrats will try to create higher regional territorial administrative offices, the amendment of public support laws (e.g. a return to a flat rate for child subsidies), to separate pension funds from the state budget and to stop the gradual increase of the retirement age. The decentralization of state administration and separation of pension funds from the state budget find support also in the coalition's minority parties - ODA and KDU-CSL, which however oppose the Social Democrats' proposals for retirement age limits and child subsidies. If a coalition of ODS, KDU-CSL and ODA could not find support for their rule in Parliament, several other possibilities exist. For example, a broad coalition government of CSSD and ODS could be established, though both party chairmen have repeatedly rejected this option; according to ODA Chairman Jan Kalvoda, a coalition between ODS and CSSD would lead to the "most stable situation possible." One final way to solve the deadlock is to dissolve Parliament and hold new elections. However, the Senate must exist in order for Parliament to be dissolved, and the first Senate elections will take place in November. Moreover, all leading politicians, with the exception of SPR-RSC Chairman Miroslav Sladek, have rejected this solution. Havel officially requested Klaus to begin talks on a future coalition after the June 6 first meeting of ODS, CSSD, KDU-CSL and ODA chairmen together with the president. Havel asked the current coalition parties to negotiate with CSSD (Zeman will get control of Parliament and Klaus will retain the goverment, according to the June 5 issue of daily MF DNES). Petr Pabian/Andrea Snyder Moravia Votes Differently than Bohemia, Women Differently than Men Differences between particular regions and social groups became clear in the results of the elections. While the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) received 43.85 per cent of the vote in Prague and the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) 18.68 per cent, CSSD won in Moravia and in North Bohemia. Moravia and northern Bohemia represent the areas of heavy industry most threatened by high unemployment and social problems. ODS suffered its most one-sided loss in northern Moravia, where the chairmen of the two strongest parties - Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus (ODS) a Milos Zeman (CSSD) - ran. ODS received 27.52 per cent and CSSD 34.21 per cent of the vote. Election results were the most defined in Prague, where satisfaction with reforms is the highest in the country. The Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA) received 9.6 per cent of votes there, while in northern Moravia they collected 3.92 per cent. The proto-fascist Association for the Republic-Republican Party of Czechoslovakia (SPR-RSC) received 12.65 percent of the vote in northern Bohemia, a region which traditionally manifests support for the Republicans because of their final solution for the Romany (Gypsy) problem - northern Bohemia has a large Romany population. ODS received an landslide majority from entrepreneurs (ODS 54 per cent, CSSD 15 per cent) and also among citizens older than 60 (ODS 41 per cent, CSSD 18 per cent). CSSD, though, took in 32 per cent of the blue-collar vote (ODS 24 per cent), and, with the communists, won in the ranj\ks of the army and police (together 56 per cent against 14 per cent for ODS). Women gave a far greater preference to ODS than to CSSD in the elections (ODS 31.6 per cent, CSSD 24.9 per cent). More women also supported the other parties of the governing coalition. On the other hand, the Republicans more attracted the male part of population. Communists received the same support from both sexes. The parties preferred by women will paradoxically have less female representatives in Parliament than the political parties men voted for. ODS has the lowest percentage of female deputies (10.3 per cent). It will staff with women 7 from its total number of 68 seats. CSSD will seat the most women in the legislature - 11 of its 61 seats, while the Republicans have the highest percentage of female deputies (27.8 per cent, 5 women from 18 deputies). Petra Rubesova, Jitka Motejzikova/Petra Rubesova, Jitka Motejzikova Foreign Reaction to Czech Parliamentary Elections Foreign media rate Czech parliamentary elections as a victory for Milos Zeman and express fears of the loss of the country's stability. German press agency DPA said Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus forgot his reforms did not make only winners. Klaus changed overnight from the unquestioned leader of Czech reform into a man fighting for his political survival, though the prime minister has overcome a few blows already and certainly will not give up now, wrote the Reuters agency. Austrian Social Democrat Chancellor Franz Vranitzky expressed his delight with the great success of his party collegues, while Polish newspapers comment the Czech situation thusly: "The Pyrrhic victory of Vaclav Klaus," or "The end of political stability in the Czech Republic." Slovak reactions agree the stability of Czech politics is threatened. Leftist politician Peter Weiss was thrilled by the success of the left but he is afraid of possible political gridlock. Democratic Union Chairman Jozef Moravcik declared the Czech election results gave no reason for joy. Spanish press agency EFE said, regarding the loss of the parliamentary majority of the conservavative governing coalition, the Czech Republic will not further represent an oasis of political stability among post-communist countries. However, no politician questioned the final objective of the Czech Republic - western Europe and NATO, wrote Spanish daily El Pais. The American media did not pay much attention to the Czech elections. According to the New York correspondent for Czech daily Lidove noviny, major TV stations did not mention the voting in their news reports June 4, and national papers such as The New York Times and USA Today came up only with a brief notes stating the results of the elections reflected Czech voters' desire to decelerate slightly the pace of the reforms promoted by Klaus' governing coalition. Petra Rubesova/Petra Rubesova Bonn Will Not Bar Czech Entrance to NATO and EU According to German Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel, the Bonn government will not condition its support for the entrance of the Czech Republic into the European Union and NATO on resolution of the Sudeten German problem. The long-expected declaration about Czech-German relations will be worked on at the conference of the North Atlantic Council for Cooperation, which began in Berlin June 3. Czech Foreign Minister Josef Zieleniec will not attend the meeting with Kinkel because of the tense post-election situation. Deputy Minister Alexandr Vondra will represent him. The theme of the negotiations are property settlement and moral questions of bilateral harm during World War II and the post-war expulsion of Sudeten Germans. Jitka Motejzikova/Jitka Motejzikova CTI instead of CTA After disputes among major shareholders which threatened the Czech Press Agency (CTA) with financial bankruptcy, the agency stopped providing services May 31. CTA, founded in 1994, was replaced by the Czech Press Company (CTI) which took over the former news services and continues to use the same communication system. CTI does not have any property connection with CTA, and distances itself from CTA's million-crown debts, wrote Czech daily Lidove noviny. CTI's majority owner is the Toma company from Otrokovice, said CTI Chairman of the Board Miroslav Sevcik. Sevcik said the new agency is prepared to compete with the state-owned Czech Press Office on the information market. Klara Schirova/Klara Schirova FROM SLOVAKIA Rupture in Government Coalition? The Slovak National Party (SNS), a hitherto coalition partner of the Movement For a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS), has vehemently attacked goverment policy. The nationalist SNS, known as radical and unwilling to retreat from its opponents, suddenly asked for a truce with the opposition, through the representation of SNS Chairman Jan Slota. Slota plans to initiate an extraordinary session of the National Assembly and propose opposition control over privatization and the secret police, according to Czech daily Lidove noviny. SNS was joined by another coalition member, the Slovak Workers' Association, when their representative, National Property Fund Chairman Stefan Gavornik, declared illegal activities are taking place in the fund. Slovak Premier Vladimir Meciar met June 5 with Slota and agreed on expanded control of the secret police, and the two discussed privatization as well, the Czech media reported. Matej Bartosek/Klara Schirova ECONOMY Value of Czech Crown Falls and Rises One consequence of the surprising results of Czech elections appeared on the currency market June 3, when the value of the Czech crown fell 2.2 per cent. A similar fate befell the stock market, where the main index, the PX-50, lost more than 4 percentage points. Some specialists claim the declines spring from uncertainty about further political development in the Czech Republic. According to the Czech National Bank, this change represents only an unimportant movement, and the return of foreign investors to the market can be expected. Head economists from the Commerce Bank and Czech financial powerhouse Patria Finance agreed that the quick establishment of a new government and Parliament will be a condition for the inflow of foreign capital. If the new government is stable and decides to follow the path of economical reforms of its predecessors, the election results should not be a barrier to positive progress on the market. With the first signals June 4 that the political players might agree on a government headed by Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, the crown significantly rose. The Czech Social Democratic Party, which will probably have a substantial impact on the future course of the Czech economy, is prepared to propose some measures differing from the policy of the current government (for example, maintaining state control in the energy, transportation and communications sectors and in larger healthcare institutions, the possible introduction of import tariffs and a deficit budget and special rules for the participation of foreign capital in Czech companies). The Social Democrats and the Civic Democratic Party agree the country should orient itself toward the West and continue to support a market economy. Klara Schirova/Klara Schirova Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid from June 6) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 21.911 Belgium 100 BEF 88.490 Great Britain 1 GBP 42.956 Denmark 1 DKK 4.715 Finland 1 FIM 5.930 France 1 FRF 5.369 Ireland 1 IEP 44.034 Italy 1000 ITL 17.998 Japan 100 JPY 25.523 Canada 1 CAD 20.384 Luxemburg 100 LUF 88.490 Netherland 1 NLG 16.265 Norway 1 NOK 4.256 New Zealand 1 NZD 18.659 Portugal 100 PTE 17.632 Austria 1 ATS 2.587 Greece 100 GRD 11.534 Slovakia 100 SKK 89.331 Germany 1 DEM 18.204 Spain 100 ESP 21.500 Sweden 1 SEK 4.133 Switzerland 1 CHF 22.174 USA 1 USD 27.839 ECU 1 XEU 34.424 SDR 1 XDR 40.150 CULTURE Czech Film Kolya Celebrates Great Success The new film of director Jan Sverak (Elementary school, Accumulator 1, The Ride) Kolya became the most visited film in the Czech Republic immediately after its May 15 premiere. By Carolina deadline about 170,000 tickets had been bought. Only American films offer Kolya any competition in the country's top 10 biggest draws. The director's father, legendary comic writer and actor Zdenek Sverak, wrote the script and plays the film's lead as well. The film narrates the story of a confirmed older bachelor and a Russian boy named Kolya. The plot unfolds in Czechoslovakia during the later normalization of the late 1980's. Because of problems with the regime, the aging cellist is permitted to play only at funerals. For 40,000 Czechoslovak crowns (the average Czech annual income at that time), he formally marries a Russian woman, who emigrates soon after their wedding. The only thing she leaves behind is her five-year-old son Kolya. The original crustiness of a man used to living alone slowly changes into a fragile mutual closeness. Kolja has thus far made about 6 million crowns. British, French and American audiences will have the opportunity to see this hilarious and well thought-out film. Jitka Motejzikova/Jitka Motejzikova SPORT Great Wedding of Great Ice Skaters Last year's world champions (amateurs and professionals) in pairs figure skating Radka Kovarikova and Rene Novotny got married at the Brno Town Hall at noon June 1. The groom was more nervous than during free skating and tripped up while saying "I do." For his chosen one, on the other hand, competitions are more stressful, she said. The bride was wearing traditional white and looked marvelous. Kovarikova will use her husband's last name. Kovarikova and Novotny have known each other since 1981 and trained together since 1988 (recently under the coaching of Irina Rodninova). That moment was also the starting point of their relationship. Rene, who turns 33 June 10 and thus becomes a full dozen years older than his wife, said Radka was at first like a younger sister to him. Though as time went by, their relationship changed and everything ended up at the city hall. Matej Bartosek/Katerina Zachvalova Soccer: Dress Rehearsal for EURO 96 The Czech team defeated the Swiss 2:1 in Basel June 1, in the last game before the European Soccer Championship in England. The victory was mainly thanks to forward Pavel Kuka, who scored both goals. Czech soccer players thus repaired their reputation after their May 29 1:0 defeat 1:0 at the hands of the Austrian team in Salzburg. Matej Bartosek/Katerina Zachovalova CORRECTION We apologize for misleading our readers in the last issue of Carolina by translating the Europe Soccer Championship as the World Cup 96 instead of as its proper English name, EURO 96. WEATHER To Those Remaining in Prague: Go outside, relax in the midst of the everyday bustle, open your arms wide and show your face to burning sun. Let all the remnants of this year's overlong winter melt from your body, let your cheeks tan and let freckles hidden underneath your skin blossom in their full beauty. A light breeze will flow through your hair. What more could you want? Jitka Motejzikova/Katerina Zachovalova English version edited by Michael Bluhm ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation. The subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated. Send them please to the address: CAROLINA@cuni.cz To subscribe to CAROLINA news you send an e-mail message to the address LISTSERV@listserv.cesnet.cz The text of message for subscription of the English version must be: SUBSCRIBE CAR-ENG First name Last name or for the Czech version SUBSCRIBE CAR-CS First name Last name To delete your subscription from the list of subscribers you send the following message to the address LISTSERV@listserv.cesnet.cz: SIGNOFF CAR-ENG or SIGNOFF CAR-CS We ask you not to send automatic replies to our list. 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