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: (+4202) 24810804, ext. 252, fax: (+4202) 24810987 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* C A R O L I N A No 295, Friday, June 26, 1998. FROM THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK (June 17-24) Social Democrats Win Early Parliamentary Elections; Right Has Majority For the first time since 1989 a left-wing party won elections in the Czech Republic. The right-wing, however, won a two-seat majority in Parliament and neither Miroslav Sladek's neo-Fascist Republicans nor Retirees for Life Security did not fulfill the predictions of pre-election polls that they would to attain at least the 5 per cent of the vote necessary to enter Parliament in the early elections June 19-20. The Czech Social Democrat Party (CSSD) was expected to win the elections and they did, with 32.3 per cent of the vote and 74 seats in Parliament, 13 more seats that in the previous elections. Former Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus' Civic Democratic Party (ODS) placed second with 27.7 per cent of the vote and 63 seats in Parliament, or five less than in 1996. The third strongest party in the country remains the Communist Party with 11 per cent of the vote and and 24 seats in Parliament (up 2 seats), followed by the Christian Democrats with 9 per cent and 20 seats (up 2) in Parliament. The right-wing Freedom Union (US), which was formed by former members of Klaus' ODS, won 8.6 per cent of the vote and 19 seats in Parliament. The Social Democrats recorded the largest margin of victory in northern Moravia, where their ballot was headed by party Chairman Milos Zeman - they gained 39 per cent, ODS 22.6. Prague voted for Klaus - ODS 42.5 per cent, CSSD 23.4. Senate elections in the fall of 1996 attracted one-third of the voting population, but last weekend's elections drew nearly three-fourths of voters - 74 per cent. The smallest percentage of voters went to the polls in northern Bohemia, 71 per cent, an area which traditionally supported the Republicans. This time it was the only region where they exceeded the 5-per-cent barrier, tallying 6.1 per cent. The highest voter turnout was in eastern Bohemia, with 79.1 per cent. Ondrej Hanzal/Andrea Snyder Little Hope for Zeman to Put Together Cabinet Czech President Vaclav Havel asked Milos Zeman, chairman of the victorious Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD), to form a new Czech Cabinet June 22. During a press conference Zeman emphasized the priorities which should serve as a guideline for making the new Cabinet: the new government shall be stable, it shall have a chance to govern for the full four years, it shall carry through changes of present policies, it shall contribute to the revitalization of economic growth, to lowering the alarming rate of economic and other crime and to the elimination of some social problems. Zeman's position is very complicated, because his Social Democrats are not able to form a majority government with their only available and acceptable partner, the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL). Chairman Josef Lux's party strictly ruled out any possibility of participating in a government silently supported by the Communists, and the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and Freedom Union (US) do not want to give any support to a Social Democrat government. Lux insists on the participation of Jan Ruml's US in a coalition, despite the clear and repeated declarations of "no" from the CSSD and US to such an alliance (Zeman and Ruml are long-time foes). A big Coalition made up of CSSD and ODS is, according their representatives, unrealistic, despite recently improved and frequent communication between chairmen Milos Zeman and Vaclav Klaus. From an arithmetical perspective the most simple solution seems to be the formation of an "old-new" coalition of the ODS, KDU-CSL and the US as a substitute for the Civic Democratic Alliance (ODA). However, the KDU-CSL dismisses a possibility of such a majority right-wing government because ODS has not changed its political style, which caused, according to Lux, the disintegration of the coalition formed after June 1996 elections. Ruml and Klaus are apparently ready to come to an agreement. The very complicated negotiations will pose a challenge to the maturity of Czech political leaders and will test their ability to overcome deep personal prejudices and antipathies. If Zeman does not succeed in forming a new Cabinet, it will be Klaus' turn, as declared by both chairmen before their meeting with the president. Havel met June 22 with the chairmen of all parties elected to Parliament with the exception of the Communists, whom he did not invite. Ondrej Hanzal, Erik Tabery/Milan Smid Election Day in Social Democrat Headquarters On the morning of June 20 the People's House (Lidovy dum) is besieged by many television crews from several countries. The reconstruction of the building is still not finished, a huge white tent has been built in the courtyard. In the tent many journalists are crowded together with young Social Democrat activists wearing T-shirts with the logo of the party's campaign bus, the Zemak. In front of TV screens showing all four Czech TV channels, television cameras and photographers' tripods stand in formation. A large white board is hanging at the back of the tent, displaying a numerical scale on which cartoon caricatures of party chairmen are standing. On the scale, 30 per cent is marked with an arrow toward Straka Academy, the seat of the Czech government. With the time nearing the closing of the polls at 2 p.m. and with expectation of the first election predictions on Czech Television, the journalists' anxiety comes to a head, everybody tries to occupy the best possible position. When Social Democrat Chairman Milos Zeman arrives, madness breaks out. Photographers, cameramen and journalists vehemently start pushing. The first results are announced. Enthusiasm turns into amazement. "Where's Ed?" asks a young Social Democrats, looking for data on the Retirees for Life Security and their Chairman Eduard Kremlicka. The pensioners are disappearing under the 5-per-cent barrier and with them the chances for one Social Democrat coalition partner. Zeman answers journalists' questions and retreats into the building's interior, leaving the stage exlusively to popular Vice Chairwoman Petra Buzkova, who gives interviews to all television stations in a T-shirt and pants. The Social Democrats are surprised by the Civic Democratic Party's strong showing, and even more by the numbers for the Freedom Union. Vice Chairman Zdenek Skromach says, "They have to go down." The faces of Social Democrat leaders betray the knowledge that a parliamentary majority is eluding them. The situation in the tent calms down, and the anxiety moves into the offices of the party. Erik Tabery/Milan Smid, Michael Bluhm Havel's Letter to Klaus Causes Chaos on Political Scene On June 17, Czech television station TV NOVA released a June 4 letter written by President Vaclav Havel to Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Chairman Vaclav Klaus. The television station released the letter just before the beginning of the 48-hour period before the elections in which all parties agreed not to campaign or influence voters. Havel writes in the letter that Social Democrat Chairman Milos Zeman would not necessarily be the person to create a government in the event that his party wins the elections. Many questions have surfaced around the letter. It is not clear why Havel wrote the letter 3 months after Zeman's claims of exhaustion, when Zeman had then accepted his party's nomination as their candidate for prime minister May 5. Also, why was the letter released just before the 48-hour period of political silence began? Another question is how NOVA got the letter. Head news editor Jan Vavra refused to say who had given him the letter. Zeman said the letter between Havel and Klaus was a strange part of the pre-election campaign. Social Democrat Deputy Pavel Dostal accused Klaus of releasing it to detract from voter confidence. Klaus said neither the president nor the party leaders wanted to confuse voters. Klaus said he received the letter by fax, whereas NOVA released the original. Presidential advisor Jiri Pehe said it was impossible for the letter to have been leaked from the president's office and spokesman Ladislav Spacek added that the president's personal secretary had delivered the letter to Klaus. Karolina Kucerova/Andrea Snyder Last Session of "Two-Year" Parliament "I welcome you to a nostalgic meeting," said Parliament Chairman Milos Zeman, setting the atmosphere for the last session of Parliament, which had its mandate shortened by two years because of the early elections. Some deputies evidently thought they would not be returning after the elections, and passed the session with a drink in their hand (Of the 200 deputies of that Parliament, 111 will return). Cameras flashed and Freedom Union deputy Anton Zima filmed the session. Czech daily MF DNES caught the farewell of Communist Chairman Miroslav Grebenicek and neo-Fascist Republican spokesman Jan Vik: "See you soon," called Grebenicek to Vik. The Communist leader could not have known he will not be seeing Vik in Snemovni Street any time soon. In spite of the nostalgic atmosphere, Parliament managed to override the president's veto of an amendment to the Lottery Act which bars foreign companies from holding lotteries or consumer contests. Surprisingly, members of the Freedom Union, the Civic Democratic Party and the Christian Democrats supported the xenophobic and discriminatory amendment. Erik Tabery/Andrea Snyder FROM SLOVAKIA Hans Van den Broek Visits Slovakia Hans Van den Broek, a member of the European Commission, visited Bratislava June 17 and called on Slovakia's government to quicken the preparations for the country's entry into the European Union. The commission declaration written before Van den Broek's visit says that "the question is not whether Slovakia will enter the European Union, but when." The commission's main interest in Slovakia lies in democratic elections. "It is inevitable that all political parties will have open access to media to express their opinions freely," said Van den Broek to the Slovak daily SME. The commissioner had a working dinner June 17 with Slovak Foreign Minister Zdenka Kramplova and June 18 met with Prime Minister Vladimir Meciar, Deputy Prime Minister Jozef Kalman, National Assembly Chairman Ivan Gasparovic and representatives of the opposition. During the 40-minute meeting between Meciar and Van den Broek, Van der Broek said they discussed a wide variety of issues. Van den Broek said he expressed his disappointment over the acceptance of the new Election Act and he pointed out the poor situation in the protection of minority language rights which must be resolved and mentioned the confusion over the nuclear power station in Mochovce. He said he supported the continuing discussion with the International Agency for Atomic Energy (MAAE). "We do not want to dramatize the issue unnecessarily; if the experts agree that everything is allright, we will be satisfied," said Van den Broek to SME. Katerina Murlova/Sofia Karakeva Switzerland Expels Russian Spy Who Cooperated with Slovak Diplomat Slovak and Russian officials deny allegations that a Russian diplomat was to pay a member of the Slovak UN mission in Geneva for information about Slovak security policy and about negotiations between Slovakia and NATO. The affair was brought to light by the June 21 edition of the Swiss daily Sonntags Zeitung, where the Russian diplomat is described as a Russian intelligence officer. Swiss officials confirmed that the Russian diplomat was expelled from Switzerland two weeks ago and was forbidden from returning for 15 years. Switzerland's Justice Ministry confirmed he was in contact with one or more Slovaks. The spokesperson of the Slovak Foreign Ministry said to the Slovak daily SME, "Slovak organs have not received from Switzerland any information about the case of a Russian diplomat being expelled from Switzerland." He added that the ministry denies all speculation about Slovak participation in the affair and considers all accusations unjustified. The present Slovak diplomatic mission in Geneva has six members. In 1994 though, when the contacts was supposed to be made, only three of them were present, among them one woman, but the daily Sonntags Zeitung said the diplomat in question was a male. Katerina Murlova/Sofia Karakeva ECONOMY Domestic Economy Declines The Statistics Office announced June 19, the first day of elections, that in the first quarter gross domestic product dropped 0.9 per cent compared to last year. The information came as a surprise to financial analysts and politicians. According to Investment and Postal Bank (Investicni a postovni banka, IPB) chief economist Jiri Krovak, former Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus' government could have improved GDP if it had reacted earlier to economic problems. Trade Minister Karel Kuhnl said that all GDP forecasts in recent years were adjusted upwards, and that situation will not change this year, a position confirmed by Ludek Niedermayer, member of the Czech National Bank's Banking Council. Social Democrat Chairman Milos Zeman, on the contrary, said the drop is a result of Klaus' two packages of economic measures last year. "(The decrease) confirms our warnings against the unsuccessful economy policy of the previous government," said Zeman to the Czech daily Pravo June 20. Jakub Svab/Sofia Karakeva Commerce Bank Has New Leadership In a general meeting held June 18, Commerce Bank (Komercni banka, CB) shareholders decided to alter the structure of the company's management. The changes in leadership, stemming from the bank's poor results, were announced in advance by Finance Minister Ivan Pilip, whose ministry controls 48 per cent of the bank's shares through the National Property Fund (Fond narodniho majetku). Bank General Director and Civic Democratic Party Senator Richard Salzmann was recalled by the new board of directors and his place was taken by former director of the Czech branch of Germany's Hypo-Bank Jan Kollert. Because two places in the new board of directors are still open, speculation abounds that the supervisory board will offer one chair to Prime Minister Josef Tosovsky, former director of the Czech National Bank. During the general meeting it was also decided that CNB shareholders will not receive dividends. As a result of new Czech National Bank measures, Salzmann said, that require banks to maintain reserves for bad loans secured by real estate, this year's balance for the bank could show a loss of billions of crowns. Jakub Svab/Sofia Karakeva Exchange Rates at the Czech National Bank (valid June 26) country currency ------------------------------------------ Australia 1 AUD 19.823 Belgium 100 BEF 88.559 Great Britain 1 GBP 54.776 Denmark 1 DKK 4.796 ECU 1 XEU 36.167 Finland 1 FIM 6.011 France 1 FRF 5.449 Ireland 1 IEP 45.977 Italy 1000 ITL 18.544 Japonsko 100 JPY 23.286 Canada 1 CAD 22.368 Luxemburg 100 LUF 88.559 IMF 1 XDR 43.786 Hungary 100 HUF 15.110 Netherlands 1 NLG 16.209 Norway 1 NOK 4.316 New Zealand 1 NZD 16.865 Poland 1 PLN 9.467 Portugal 100 PTE 17.838 Austria 1 ATS 2.597 Greece 100 GRD 10.808 Germany 1 DEM 18.270 Slovakia 100 SKK 93.775 Slovenia 100 SIT 19.416 Spain 100 ESP 21.523 Sweden 1 SEK 4.165 Switzerland 1 CHF 21.788 USA 1 USD 32.817 CULTURE A Century of Czech Cinematography Celebrated in Prague From June 19 till July 6 at the Prague Fairgrounds (Vystaviste) film-lovers will have a chance to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first film projection in Bohemia. That performance took place on the occasion of an Architecture and Engineering Exhibition in Jan Krizenecky's Czech Cinematography Pavilion in 1898. The main part of the exposition is found in the right wing of the Industry Palace, organized as a poetic labyrinth in which pieces from the beginnings of film are on display. Another attraction is a spheric kaleidoscope, director Raduz Cincera's original audiovisual system, which shows a program entitled In Honor of Czech Film. Feature films are being shown as well, in sections for adolescent spectators, a cycle called Laughing with Czech Film and also dramatic production, featuring the classics of the 60's. Evenings are dominated by the section In Honor of Film Personalities, dedicated to significant Czech directors. Concomitant activities connected with the anniversary include the re-release of the musical Ballad for a Bandit into regular distribution, and a program of short films called How It Started ... And Went on, prepared by the CinemArt distribution company, is to be presented in film clubs. Karolina Kucerova/Denisa Vitkova Prague to Dance with Arrival of Summer From June 17 till July 2 the 10th Prague Dance festival is taking place on various city stages, especially on the Letna Plain and in the Archa Theater. The festival also includes open-to-the-public performances on Old Town Square. Prague Dance traditionally gives room to various dance genres, not only for "pure" dance but also for performances combining dance with drama, circus, recital and film. This year, ensembles from Europe, North America, and Asia will perform during the festival. The festival was opened by the French circus ensemble Anomalie, with their Scream of a Chameleon. Because of exceptional audience interest, the performance took place in the Na Folimance sport hall. The artists' performance, based on acrobatic and clown elements, was directed by choreographer Joseph Nadj. Anomalie had been successful with the show at many festivals and did not disappoint here, as the Prague audience was very appreciative. The height of the festival were two performances of the Twyla Tharp Dance Group called Tharp! June 24-25. The American choreographer Tharp is noted for her experiments and for her work with Mikhail Baryshnikov and Milos Forman (Hair, Amadeus). The Austrian dance theater Pilottanz with their performance Things from Above (June 18-19), the Swiss group Alias with their choreography A Man Cannot Hold His Breath All the Time (June 29-30) and the Canadian ensemble Holy Body Tattoo Dance with their program Our Brief Eternity (June 25-26) will also perform during the festival. Prague Dance will by closed by two performances from the Taiwanese ensemble Taipei Dance Circle entitled Olympics (July 1-2). Karolina Kucerova/Denisa Vitkova SPORTS Wimbledon: Korda Wins, Women Fall Third-seeded Petr Korda began his play in this year's Wimbledon with an easy win over Spain's Javier Sanchez. "I was pretty nervous," Korda said. Radomir Vasek recorded his first win at Wimbledon against Germany's Gross. Jiri Novak arrived in London June 22 and tired Englishman Tim Henman for five sets, but without a victory. The first round was very disappointing for Czech women. Gersi, Chladkova, Hrdlickova and Nemeckova altogether won 11 games. Helena Sukova also could not continue her recent good play and after a rain delay lost to Switzerland's Schnyder. Only Jana Novotna defeated Sandra Kleinova to move on. Czech players' results: 1st round: Vacek - Pozzi (Italy) 7-6, 7-6, 6-3, Dosedel - Siemerink (Netherlands) 1-6, 4-6, 6-7, Damm - Grossjean (France) 3-6, 6-7, 3-6, Novak - Henman (Britain, 12) 6-7, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4, 2-6, Korda (3) - Sanchez (Spain) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3, Vasek - Gross (Germany) 7-6, 6-3, 6-1, Ulihrach - Arnold 2-6, 7-6, 6-3, 6-3. 2nd round: Korda - DeWulf (Belgium) 6-4, 6-3, 6-2, Vasek - Mantilla (Spain) 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, Ulihrach - Bracciali (Italy) 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 2-6. Women: 1st round: Gersi - Carlsson (Sweden) 1-6, 1-6, Nemeckova - Snyder (United States) 3-6, 0-6, Hrdlickova - Tanasugarn (Thailand) 0-6, 5-7, Chladkova - Perfetti (Italy) 0-6, 1-6, Novotna (3) - Kleinova 6-2, 6-2, Sukova - Schnyder (Switzerland, 13) 6-3, 4-6, 3-6, Bobkova - Serna (Spain) 5-7, 6-4, 1-6. 2nd round: Novotna - Panovova (Russia) 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. Sparta Praha Soccer Player Goes to Fiorentina Sparta Praha and AC Fiorentina representatives agreed June 22 to defender Tomas Repka's transfer to Firenze for the sum of 8 million USD. After he passed the Italians' physical, Repka signed a four-year contract with a two-year option. Coach Lener Hesitates Slavomir Lener, candidate for the position of assistant to national hockey team coach Ivan Hlinka, asked Hlinka to give more time for a decision. Lener, who has assisted Hlinka in the past, has other offers including the one from the NHL's Florida Panthers. Sports by Ondrej Hanzal/Mirek Langer WEATHER Summer officially began June 21 just before 5 p.m., although the weather slyly pretended not to notice, not bothering to change a thing. The sky clears up once in a while, but the clouds soon dampen that fun. During the week, days with temperature under 20 degrees Celsius/68 degrees Fahrenheit alternated with tropically sunny moments. The weather's capriciousness is greater than usual, meaning June 22's morning cloudburst, midday sizzle and afternoon showers are not at all exceptional. As the perfect accessories for promenades we recommend swimming suit, an umbrella and a reasonably warm sweater. Karolina Kucerova/Mirek Langer English version edited by Michael Bluhm. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This news may be published only with "CAROLINA" designation. The subscription is free. Comments and remarks are appreciated. 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