Social Democrats confirm no confidence vote
The opposition Social Democrats have confirmed they will call a vote of no confidence on the coalition government next week.
The date has been set for April 30. For the motion to succeed, the opposition requires at least 101 votes Paraguay polls suggest new leader ...
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Was late Czechoslovak president Benes Soviet agent? - press ... in the 200-member Parliament, but the opposition can only effectively rely on 97 MPs. Former Social Democrat lawmakers Miloš Melčák and Michal Pohanka confirmed on Friday they would continue to back the government. The opposition Social Democrats along with the Communist Party have tried to topple the coalition twice before. On Friday the Social Democrats stepped up their rhetoric, accusing the government of corruption and criticising steps taken in health care and other sectors.
Police shelve election death threats case
Police have shelved their investigation into a widely-publicised case of death threats against a number of MPs and senators. The threats took place during the presidential election in February. According to internet news site aktualne.cz, investigators failed to uncover any perpetrators. After a first attempt to elect the country’s president failed, lawmakers such as Social Democrat MP EvĹľen SnĂtilĂ˝ and Senator Liana Janáčková received envelopes containing bullets – an apparent attempt at intimidation. As a result Mr SnĂtilĂ˝ and family members for a time were provided police protection.
Police charge 12 in prostitution ring
Police have charged 12 individuals for alleged activities in a prostitution ring targeting young women from former Soviet bloc countries. The 12, four men and 8 women (11 of whom are from former Soviet bloc) ran a dozen prostitution sites. Police are now investigating whether girls working for the ring did so of their own volition or were forced. The gang is suspected of having made several million crowns in profits over a number of years: all of the foreign nationals in the gang were in the country legally.
Deputy transport minister named winner of “Ropák” anti-award
Deputy transport minister Jiřà Hodač has been named the winner of the 2007 “Ropák" or Oil Guzzler, awarded for the worst environmental policies. Winners of the anti-award are chosen each year by Czech environmentalists Děti Země. Mr Hodač was chosen for supposedly threatening to sue a number of civic associations in a dispute last year. The award is named after a fictional creature that lives off of industrial waste; it was invented by director Jan Svěrák in a mock-documentary.
Another to receive an anti-prize on Friday was President Václav Klaus. He was named as this year’s holder of the Green Pearl – given for worst environment-related statement in the media. The president, well-known for scepticism on the issue of global warming, questioned ecological devastation on the planet by reportedly telling Hospodárské noviny he’d “never seen any in [his] life”.
Hockey: NHL playoffs
Hockey forward Tomáš Plekanec earned an assist in the Montreal Canadiens’ dramatic win over the Philadelphia Flyers in the Stanley Cup playoffs on Thursday. The Canadiens twice rallied from behind, tying the game with only seconds remaining. Montreal then scored in the first minute of overtime to win 3-2.
In other action, Milan Hejduk scored for the Colorado Avalanche against Detroit – but his goal, while enough to put his team within distance, but not enough for a win. The Red Wings – with Chris Osgood in net, not Dominik Hašek – edged Colorado by a score of 4-3.
Weather
Partly clear skies are expected into the weekend. Daytime temperatures on Saturday should reach highs of up to 15 degrees Celsius. Sunday is likely to see similar conditions, with temperatures going up to 20 degrees.
(radio-Prague)
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