News

Topolánek confirms he will run to retain top post

Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek has confirmed his decision to defend his position as Civic Democratic Party leader at the party’s December congress. He revealed the news during a special briefing on Sunday, ending speculation he might give up the post over increasing opposition within his own party. Questions over Mr Topolánek’s political future came to the fore since his party’s poor showing in regional and Senate elections in October. So far, only one other candidate, deputy leader Pavel Bém, has officially announced he will also be running. Mr Bém recently compared his party to a ship drawing water, badly in need of a new “captain”.

Cabinet reshuffle expected

In related news, the prime minister said on a Sunday TV interview programme that there would be changes to his cabinet following the defeat of the coalition parties in the recent regional and Senate elections. But he declined to confirm any names yet. There has been speculation those affected could include the embattled Health Minister, Tomáš Julínek, blamed by some within the Civic Democratic Party for failing to reassure the public of the need for healthcare fees at the doctor’s, a key issue in the elections. Other names mentioned in the media in connection with a possible cabinet reshuffle include Agriculture Minister Petr Gandalovič and Culture Minister Václav Jehlička.

11 die on Czech roads

Police statistics have revealed that 11 people lost their lives in tragic accidents on Czech roads during the first November weekend. Saturday saw a number of deaths, including that of an 18-year-old driver who had received his permit only one month earlier. Police say that speeding was a factor in the crash; three fellow passengers were injured, one of them seriously. Sunday saw a head-on collision between two cars near Jindřichův Hradec, killing two people. Two motorcyclists were killed on Sunday afternoon when they collided head-on with a car in the area of Uherské Hradiště. Ahead of the weekend police had warned for drivers on Czech roads to be especially diligent due to poor weather conditions, including fog in places.

Association to award anti-bureaucracy prize

The Czech civic association eStat.cz has awarded its annual anti-bureaucracy prize to the Irish people, reportedly for the decision in a referendum to vote against the EU’s Lisbon Treaty this year. The prize is to be awarded to Declan Ganley, the head of an organisation which played a key role in the Irish “No” vote, in Prague on Wednesday. eStat, which has close ties to the Civic Democratic Party, began its award three years ago. The first recipient was President - and Civic Democratic Party founder - Václav Klaus.

Vyšehrad tunnel to see repairs

A small tunnel below Vyšehrad in Prague used by trams and some 20,000 motorists daily will be closed for four weeks, with traffic re-routed until the end of November. Repairs on local tram track are the reason: a stretch of track leading 300 metres along Podolí and the Vltava river, as well as through the tunnel, was last repaired 26 years ago, the Prague Transport Authority has said. Trams into the centre will be re-routed through Albertov.

Football: Čech expresses desire to challenge Bonetti record

Czech star football goalkeeper Petr Čech, who recently recorded his 100th clean sheet for his club Chelsea, has expressed the hope of challenging the club’s record for most clean sheets over the next five years. The record for the club – 205 – is held by the legendary goalkeeper Peter Bonetti, nicknamed “The Cat” in the 1960s and ‘70s for his quick reflexes. Petr Čech needed 180 games with Chelsea to rack up 100 goalless games.

NHL action: Plekanec scores twice, earns two assists in Canadiens win over Islanders

Czech hockey centre forward Tomáš Plekanec had his best game of the NHL season so far with the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, notching up two goals and two assists to help his team sink the New York Islanders. The Habs won the game by a score of 5:4. Prior to the game, Plekanec had racked up just three points in nine matches.

NHL: Erat scores two for Florida

In other NHL action, Nashville forward Martin Erat scored the tying goal for his team against Florida in the 50th minute on Saturday night, and scored again in the penalty shoot-out to help Florida win 3:2.

Weather

Mostly cloudy conditions are expected into the new week: daytime temperatures on Monday are expected to reach highs of around 13 degrees Celsius.