He recalls that the junior ruling Greens (SZ) this weekend announced the nomination of rock musician Michael Kocab, former deputy and adviser to then president Vaclav Havel, for the Senate elections. Actor Toman Toepfer had already been catapulted to the upper house by the senior ruling Civic Democrats (ODS) in the previous elections.
The opposition Social Democrats' (CSSD) attempt to field Zdenek Troska, director of popular film comedies, has failed only because of his health troubles, Dolezal writes. He Area of one third of Czech Senate constituencies to change ...
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Czech CSSD has 10 percent lead over ODS - poll ...
Czech minister welcomes court ruling preserving patients' fees ... points out that people with attractive professions, actors, athletes as well as scientists, have a chance to succeed in the Senate polls since voters believe that unlike "a mere politician" they really command something. Some senators also try to adapt to the idea that a politician is like an actor or entertainer. The parties then do not field politicians, "but personalities" to meet the public demand, Dolezal writes. However, as a result the Senate faces a risk of turning into something between the "Hall of Fame and a puppet theatre" in the future, Dolezal says. "No one would probably mind it very much. This is the destiny of all institutions that are useless," Dolezal writes in conclusion in LN. The disputes in the Green Party ahead of the upcoming congress actually concern the way of politics functioning in a democratic country, Jan Keller writes in Pravo today. He says Greens chairman Martin Bursik acts as a strong "technocrat" for whom environmental issues are interesting only if they can attract some 10 percent of voters. Bursik's opponents, on their part demand, that all projects with a significant impact on the environment be subject to an expert and public debate. Bursik is convinced that the party leadership should decide on serious matters alone as experts can have various opinions and the public "should keep silent in the period between elections," Keller says. The fact that his opponents' credo is regarded as symptoms of fanaticism, radicalism and extremism by those in power, including President Vaclav Klaus, also plays into Bursik's hands, Keller points out. Politicians often argue that common people cannot understand important matters and experts' situation is not much better. If their opinions do not suit top politicians, they are usually ignored, Keller writes. The Czech government could use "the silly season" this summer to improve its reputation and campaign for the project of a U.S. radar base in the Czech Republic, but it missed the chance, Lukas Jelinek writes elsewhere in Pravo today. The government should explain to people what fundamental threats of the civilisation has made it signed a treaty on the stationing of a radar base at the Brdy military district, some 90km southwest of Prague, on Czech soil with the United States, Jelinek says. The summer months could be really used for a responsible debate on the risks and alternatives of defence against them. The team of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek had a chance to "pay the [information] debt" and provide all available information and analyses for citizens, Jelinek writes. Instead, people can read studies of non-government scientists about the health, environmental and security risks of the radar base. "I have started suspecting the cabinet of keeping silent as it has nothing to say. No good news, no convincing facts. Moreover, deputies and senators lack a thorough documentation, too," Jelinek notes. In this situation, it is absurd to reject a referendum because of people not having the necessary knowledge, Jelinek says. The legislators and ministers should now re-asses their holiday plans and instead of going to the seaside, they should go to university libraries to seek information, to the Brdy forests and TV studios, Jelinek concludes in Pravo.
(Ceske Noviny)
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