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It's Klaus, Klaus and Klaus yet again in the weeklies. Vaclav Klaus'
downfall has set off an unprecedented storm of media publicity all
centring on the now grey haired figure who is refusing to become a
has-been. Tyden magazine sports a puppet of the outgoing Czech premier
on its cover under the title "The Story of Vaclav Klaus". It has
devoted an incredible 33 pages to Klaus' reform, Klaus' image, Klaus'
privacy, Klaus' friends, Klaus' triumphs, Klaus' failures -and even
Klaus' era and Klaus' legacy. We were besotted by Klaus, the weekly
says, he was the embodiment of our strength, our courage, and
capabilities . He fulfilled our need to idealize a leader and lay our
burdens on his shoulders. Now he is fulfilling our need for revenge.
Klaus' road to power is documented by numerous photos -from a longer-
haired, tousled- looking Klaus, totally at easy clinking beer glasses
with Vaclav Havel, to the last, currently much publicized photo of
Klaus in a defeated pose, sitting totally abandoned in the Lower House
with his head in his hands. "Klaus-his own hostage" is the title of
a report in this week's Respekt. It comments on some of the premier's
qualities and character quirks which made his life difficult-for
instance his suicidal relationship with the press with whom he found
it difficult to communicate and on whom he eventually tried to foist
the blame for many of his problems. So why are Czech political
commentators so hard on the once role model premier of Eastern Europe?
Jeremy Drukker of the Prague Post notes: " It would be a lot easier
to give Klaus the merit he deserves if he showed a little humility and
grace. Klaus' critics would readily concede that he did a great deal
for the country /or " more than a little" as Klaus himself ironically
put it/ so long as he would, with magnanimity , say that for the good
of the country, he'll step down. John Chipman, who has an article in
the same paper, notes "while it may be too late for Vaclav Klaus to
save his own skin it's not too late for him to save the policies he
has fought so stridently to implement."
How do businessmen feel about the government crisis? Similarly as the
majority of political commentators they feel that there should be no
basic change in the country's development as a democracy and a free
market economy. Vratislav Kulhanek, director of the Czech car maker
Skoda, who has been interviewed by Reflex has this to say: If the next
government is at all reasonable nothing much should change. It's like
the change of government in Poland or Hungary. If they win the
elections the Social Democrats will hopefully drop their opposition
rhetoric and do pretty much what Vaclav Klaus did. If they are up to
it that is. We can only hope they are..."
President Vaclav Havel's decision to stand for another term in office
has also attracted media attention with the Mlada Fronta Dnes
supplement running a mini-opinion poll as to whether people would
prefer to vote directly in presidential elections. Out of 12
respondents only two gave a positive response. Although trust in both
houses of Parliament is exceedingly low the majority of respondents
still prefer to leave the vote to their deputy. Writer Ludvik Vaculik
told the daily " some time ago I would have given you a YES answer -
but now that I have seen the mood-swings of the nation, I think it
would be better to leave it in the hands of our deputies".
On the other hand economist Jan Svejnar, one of the possible
candidates for the post of premier, was one of the two in favour of
direct presidential elections -noting that the public should be given
a say on so important a matter.
And finally, on a non-political topic, which are very scarce in the
weeklies these days, Ladka Bauerova of the Prague Post reports on how
the looming EU ban on tobacco adds may affect the Czech market as the
country moves to bring its legislation in line with EU standards.
There is controversy over the current situation . Health ministry
officials claim that tobacco advertising here is already fairly well
regulated and that the country should have little trouble meeting EU
standards upon accession. However health activists are not impressed,
Bauerova says. They are calling the situation disastrous, claiming
that tobacco advertisements are very aggressive and focus primarily
on one target group -children around age 12. Health activist Eva
Kralikova is quoted as saying that although the overall number of
smokers is finally decreasing cigarette consumption among the younger
generation is on the rise. And more than 70 % of smokers between 15
and 18 are apparently not buying Czech cigarettes but expensive brands
such as Malboro, Camel and M and L - the kinds they see in flashy
adds. Czech health activists welcome the get-tough approach coming
from the West but they are somewhat sceptical as to its immediate
implementation in this country, Bauerova notes. To begin with the EU
ban still has to be ratified by the European Parliament, a process
that can take up to 5 months. Assuming it does go into effect tobacco
billboards will have to be phased out within 3 years, press ads within
4 and sponsorship within 6 years. An exception has been made for
Formula One automobile races at which cigarette makers can sponsor
their clients until the year 2OO6, the Prague Post concludes.
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