News

Czech Position suspends publication

Brian Kenety — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 08:31:55 +0000

Czech Position launched in December 2010 with the lofty goal of becoming the world’s daily English-language source for Czech political, business and cultural news, by offering a mix of breaking news reports, feature articles, analysis and investigative reporting. Alas, all good things must come to an end.

Czechs bought three CASA aircraft for price of four, 2005 document shows

Martin Shabu — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 10:38:26 +0000

Vlasta Parkanová (TOP 09) was stripped of her parliamentary immunity last week so that she can be prosecuted for having signed off on a Kč 3.6 billion contract to buy CASA transport planes for the Czech Army when she was defense minister.

Speculators await massive Prague city property sell-off

Kateřina Menzelová — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 12:13:25 +0000

Prague councilors have approved the sale of nearly 3,855 city-owned dwellings — just a few hundred shy of the entire number of apartments sold last year in the Czech capital — for which the city hopes to fetch at least Kč 4 billion. There is talk, however, that speculators will manage to circumvent controls seeking to grant favorable terms only to current tenants.

More will follow after Vlasta Parkanová. Hopefully.

Zdeněk Ondráček — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:18:06 +0000

Vlasta Parkanová (TOP 09) resigned on Wednesday as deputy speaker of the House after MPs lifted her parliamentary immunity so she can be prosecuted over alleged negligence in signing a contract to buy CASA transport planes for the Czech Army — which were allegedly unneeded and deliberately overpriced by at least Kč 658 million.

Why Czech strategic fuel reserve body ‘special accounts’ remain secret

István Léko — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 12:00:34 +0000

The Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) has said that to comply with the government’s request to check the books of the Administration of State Material Reserves (SSHR) would be futile, even if it had the full capacity to do so.

Interview: Why Czech writer Jáchym Topol joined ‘quixotic’ Greens as Senate hopeful

Jan Brabec — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:03:47 +0000

With the elections to the Czech upper house of Parliament only some five months away, political parties are trying to lure voters in with new faces.

Key Investments files for insolvency, remains a threat to Czech elite

István Léko — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 09:37:09 +0000

The opaque brokerage Key Investments — into which nearly Kč 1 billion of public funds has apparently been lost or embezzled —last week filed for insolvency, the news server Týden.cz reported, citing company director Daniel Brzkovský.

Taxing issue: Czech economy on verge of crisis

Jaroslav Ungerman — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 13:35:18 +0000

The Czech economy fell into a recession in the fourth quarter of 2011 as it dropped 0.2 percent quarter on quarter.

Put Parkanová on trial – for her own good

Petr Nováček — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:54:47 +0000

The lower house’s Mandate and Immunity Committee interviewed former defense minister and fellow MP Vlasta Parkanová on Wednesday for a second time over the 2009 purchase of CASA transport aircraft, said to have been deliberately overpriced by at least Kč 658 million.

‘Mr Clean’ sullies his reputation with Justice Minister’s recall

István Léko — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 11:37:58 +0000

COMMENTARY by István Léko/ Czech Prime Minister Petr Nečas ousted his justice minister and fellow Civic Democrat (ODS) Jiří Pospíšil on Wednesday morning without warning — and apparent provocation. It appears he caved in to pressure within his party, but the majority of voters will likely come out against the move.

Reformist ODS Justice Minister Jiří Pospíšil sacked over ‘mismanagement’

Martin Shabu — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:16:34 +0000

The Czech president has dismissed Justice Minister Jiří Pospíšil, acting on a request by Prime Minister Petr Nečas (Civic Democrats, ODS), who told a news conference on Wednesday he had lost confidence in his fellow party member’s ability to manage the ministry and its finances.

Prague 10 politicians resign over Key Investments probe

István Léko — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:44:58 +0000

The Czech police’s anti-corruption and financial crimes unit ÚOKFK has been investigating criminal complaints relating to the opaque brokerage Key Investments — into which nearly Kč 1 billion of public funds has apparently been lost or embezzled — for more than a year and a half.

Goldman Sachs’ Vladimír Dlouhý to run for Czech presidency as independent

Martin Shabu — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:05:35 +0000

Czech economist Vladimír Dlouhý, the nation’s very first minister of industry and trade under then Prime Minister Václav Klaus (now serving his final term as head of state), will run for the presidency as an independent.

CASA corruption case legal cause célèbre, but unlike Pandur tender

Kateřina Menzelová — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 14:10:38 +0000

Parliament’s immunity and mandate committee took no decision at their session Wednesday on the question of allowing MP Vlasta Parkanová (TOP 09), the former defense minister, to be prosecuted on abuse of office and other charges for her role in the 2009 purchase of CASA transport aircraft, said to have been deliberately overpriced by Kč 658 million.

Golden parachutes at Prague transport firm – business as usual?

Ondřej Koutník — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 11:51:14 +0000

The 29-year-old burly lawyer Michal Prskavec on January 18 this year became head of the legal department of the embattled Prague Transport Company (DPP), which was reeling from allegations of corruption surrounding the departing company director Martin Dvořák.