Society

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.

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.

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.

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.

Havel’s kilt? Late Czech president gets own tartan

Brian Kenety — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 10:49:04 +0000

Václav Havel, the dissident Czech playwright and Velvet Revolution figurehead who continued to fight for human rights causes around the globe long after stepping down as president, has been honored with his own official tartan.

Top Czech court upholds justice minister’s sacking of Prague prosecutor

Brian Kenety — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:13:23 +0000

Chief Prague Prosecutor Vlastimil Rampula will again be removed from office following a ruling by the Supreme Administrative Court (NSS) on Tuesday in favor of a cassation complaint by Czech Minister of Justice Jiří Pospíšil, who charged the top prosecutor had held up key corruption investigations and mishandled a major privatization case, costing the state tens of billions in damages.

Ex-deputy culture minister files complaint over murky deals at Prague State Opera

Marie Reslová — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:55:14 +0000

Following the May 2010 parliamentary elections, responsibility for the performing arts fell to Czech deputy culture minister Radek Zdráhal. He didn’t like what he saw at the Prague State Opera — losses and less than transparent management.

Viva la Villa!

Guest Writer — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 11:01:28 +0000

When it comes to architectural discussions in Prague, today it often seems to be a bitter battle of words from preservationists versus developers. Hearken back to the “golden” days of Czech architecture when art nouveau dominated at the beginning of the 20^th century (think Obecní dům), which was soon followed by the iconic Czech cubist style pioneered by Josef Gočár

‘Money, Politics and Power’ report points to Czech crony capitalism

Brian Kenety — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 10:24:42 +0000

Close relationships between businesses and governments are enabling corruption and undermining economic stability in Europe, with few countries regulating lobbying or allowing easy access to public information, thereby helping foster a culture of graft allowing political and business elites to divert funds with impunity, the anticorruption watchdog Transparency International said in a report is

Czech prison overcrowding may spark riots ahead of amnesty

Zdeněk Ondráček — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 08:53:55 +0000

The Czech government on May 30 announced it had earmarked another Kč 550 million for the Prison Service budget, most of which Justice Minister Jiří Pospíšil (Civic Democrats, ODS) found from his ministry. In addition, the service will get Kč 150 million from the reserve budget. Though it sounds like a windfall, the prisons had asked for Kč 940 million.

A Boy in Terezín

Guest Writer — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:46:55 +0000

Among the tens of thousands of Jews sent to the Nazi concentration camp Terezín (or Theresienstadt) were 15,000 children, of whom only 132 were known to have survived the war. Pavel Weiner, a studious, erudite Czech boy, who kept a diary of his experiences in the garrison town turned “model ghetto,” was among them.

Crepuscular: the ruins of modern times

Michael Stein — Thu, 31 May 2012 13:59:42 +0000

The depiction of ruins has a prominent place in the history of European art. From the Renaissance artists who sketched the crumbling remnants of Ancient Rome to the Romantic era’s painters who never missed a chance to paint an atmospheric and abandoned castle set off against a foreboding sky, artists have led the way in expanding the definition of beauty.