News Czech Republic 17.09 -18.09.2012

CR:Police say criminal negligence most likely behind bootleg deaths

Police say they believe criminal negligence was behind the outbreak of methanol poisonings in the Czech Republic. At a press briefing in Prague on Tuesday Deputy Interior Minister Jaroslav Hruska said the evidence collected so far pointed to a fatal error rather than a premeditated crime. Twenty three people have been charged so far and according to the deputy interior minister investigators were getting closer to the source, but were not there yet. Police president Martin Cervicek said earlier that identifying the source and tracing the contaminated liquor could take weeks.

Death toll from methanol poisoning reaches 22

The death toll from contaminated bootleg liquor in the Czech Republic has reached twenty-two. An autopsy conducted on a woman who died at home has confirmed death from methanol poisoning. A 29-year-old man from south Moravia who had been in critical condition for over a week also died on Tuesday. The man reportedly ordered the lethal liquor on the Internet. Meanwhile four more people are reported to have been hospitalized in Ostrava and Karvine in Moravia after drinking spirits they had at home. More than 35 people remain in hospital in different parts of the country, though most of the cases have occurred in Moravia.

Alcohol market still not safe

Preventive checks of spirits are taking place around with country with police officers, fire fighters and hygiene inspectors out the field daily. Fire fighters recently uncovered 260 litres of alcohol in plastic containers in which the methanol content exceeded 20-30 percent. An illegal bottling plant was uncovered in the vicinity of Cheb, west Bohemia, from which police confiscated equipment, bottles and stamps. Police are investigating how 94,000 tax stamps designated for an official liquor producer ended up in the hands of bootleggers.

Radio and TV council bans ads for spirits

The council for radio and TV broadcasting has issued a ban on advertisements for spirits while sales of hard liquor are prohibited. The regulation banning the sale of all beverages containing more than 20 percent alcohol – came into effect on Friday after bootleg liquor took its 20th victim and when it emerged that many of the victims had bought the deadly alcohol from regular stores. The bottles contained fake or stolen labels and tax stamps. It is not clear how long the ban may last for. The health minister has indicated that the government may in time moderate the ban and enable the sale of imported quality alcohol that is considered safe.

Ban causing heavy financial losses

Czech spirits producers and importers are losing about 15 million crowns on net sales every day as a result of the ban. Some have restricted production and may be laying-off staff. Restaurants and bars report a steep drop in profits and a drop in regular customers. The state is also reported to be losing around 25 million in taxes each day. The estimate includes a drop in excise duty as well as value added tax.

Slovakia announces ban on Czech liquor imports

Slovakia has announced it is banning liquor imports from the Czech Republic in connection with the outbreak of methanol poisonings. The ban should take effect as of 5pm on Tuesday. Poland issued a ban on Czech spirits on Sunday.

Liquor producers say broad ban on spirits tarnishing their reputation

Several liquor producers have issued statements criticizing the government for having neglected the problems with bootleg alcohol for years and say that the broad ban on spirits will severely damage their finances and reputation. The Jan Becher company that makes the country’s famous Becherovka liquor has turned to the European Commission for help. Some hard drink producers have quickly changed their production plans in view of the ban on imports from Poland and Slovakia and are focussing on other buyers.

Norwegian poisons expert says situation in the Czech Republic grave

Dr Knut Erik Hovda from the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Centre in Oslo who last week brought an antidote to methanol to Prague to help deal with the outbreak of methanol poisonings has expressed grave concern with regards to the crisis. He said the situation was very serious and the authorities did not have things under control. He moreover noted that in view of the high costs of the antidote fomepisole Czech doctors only used it in extreme cases treating other victims with ethanol which was far less effective and not without side-effects.

Civic Democrats to seek compromise on tax bill

A controversial government bill on tax hikes which was earlier rejected by the lower house is going back for a repeat vote linked to a vote of confidence in the center- right government. The prime minister is still hoping to reach agreement with the six rebel deputies from his own party who scuppered the legislation and remain vehemently opposed to the proposed hike in VAT. The threat of the government falling is not imminent however since the deputies in question have agreed to support the bill in its first reading and propose changes later. This gives the prime minister an extra thirty days in which to come up with a compromise solution.

Defence ministry selling off unused land and property

The Defence Ministry is selling unused land and property in order to be able to save money. Close to 40 buildings are being put on the market including a hotel, a spa and wellness facility and unused military barracks hat can serve as storage facilities. Last year the ministry sold property to the tune of 364 million crowns, this year it is hoping to increase its budget by 426 million.

Weather

A cold front is expected to bring the warm spell to an abrupt end on Wednesday with overcast skies, scattered showers and a drop in day temperatures to between 13 and 17 degrees Celsius.

Methanol deaths reach 21

Methanol poisoning claimed another victim on Sunday evening, bringing the number of deaths in the country to 21. A 47-year-old woman from the eastern city of Český Těšín died after two days of hospitalisation. More than 35 people remain in hospital in different parts of the country, though most of the cases have occurred in Moravia. A Prague hospital admitted a second person from the capital for methanol poisoning on Sunday. More than 30,000 inspections have been carried out in bars, restaurants and street stalls since Friday evening. Police have charged 23 people around the country in connection with the outbreak

Slovakia reports four possible cases of methanol poisoning

Reports of methanol poisoning also emerged from Slovakia on Sunday, with four people hospitalised in the eastern city of Prešov. The patients had reportedly been drinking hard alcohol produced in the Czech Republic at a party. Six others who attended the party were admitted to hospital with headaches, but have not been diagnosed with methanol poisoning. In the meantime, Polish authorities have banned the sale of spirits from the Czech Republic.

Heger: prohibition may lead to legal disputes

Health Minister Leoš Heger addressed some of the legal ramifications of the ban on spirits on Monday, allowing that the currently indefinite prohibition may well give rise to legal battles. The crisis team looking at the impact of the ban has not yet dealt with the question of indemnity for alcohol producers. The health minister says 20 million bottles of spirits are lying in storage following the ban, which took effect last Friday. Mr Heger noted that exports have not been restricted and the ban is wholly on retailers’ sale to consumers. The state is also negotiating with the Norwegian manufacturer of an antidote, fomepizole, thirty doses of which have been donated. Heger has said he hopes the ban will be lifted in less than a month, but has not ruled out the possibility that it may take longer.

Schwarzenberg in Georgia to oversee election preparations

Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg arrived in the Republic of Georgia on Monday for a two-day trip to oversee preparations for the country’s parliamentary elections in October. Mr Schwarzenberg is joined by four other EU foreign ministers – from Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Romania – all members of an informal Friends of Georgia group, which will meet with their Georgian counterpart and offer objective support. The Czech Foreign Minister told a press conference in Tbilisi that they would be recording facts and hoped to remain unbiased, adding that the best friend is one that talks about the problems he sees.

Facilities for the homeless being used by nearly 11,500 people

Facilities for the homeless are being used by nearly 11,500 people, the Czech Statistical Office reports. This estimate showed the largest number of homeless in the region of Moravia-Silesia (2,574) which more than doubled that of Prague (1,254). According to the count, the largest demographic group of homeless people were unmarried Czech males aged 45 to 49 with minimal education. Less than 22% of the clients of social facilities were women, the largest group of which were aged 20 to 24. The office notes that the actual number of homeless could actually be up to three times higher, as many live on the streets or in squats.

Presidential polls: Fischer gains from Švejnar, Franz builds ‘protest’ following

The polling agency PPM Factum suggests that presidential candidate Jan Fischer was most aided by the decision of economist Jan Švejnar not to run. Former prime minister Fisher enjoyed a 5.7% rise in support after Mr Švejnar’s announcement in August, and is currently polling at 27.7%, according to the agency. Former Social Democrat prime minister Miloš Zeman is in second place in the survey with 22.7% of the hypothetical vote, followed at a large distance by his former party’s candidate Jiří Dienstbier, with 6.9%. Artist and tattoo aficionado Vladimír Franz, which the pollsters call a protest candidate, has also gained strongly to 6.6% - more than the results for the candidates of the two main governing parties.

Cabinet members’ popularity wanes amid controversies

The STEM agency, meanwhile, has released the results of its monitoring of politicians’ popularity. The poll suggests that recent problems regarding vehicle registration, the dismissal of the police president and discussed tax increases have impacted on several, primarily cabinet, politicians. Prime Minister Petr Nečas, Interior Minister Jan Kubice and Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek all reached their lowest levels yet. The most favourable politicans were Social Democrat Jiřím Dienstbierem followed by former justice minister Jiří Pospíšil, Social Democrat chairman Bohuslav Sobotka, and speaker of the lower house Miroslava Němcová.

Klaus vetoes bill aimed at relieving prison overcrowding

President Václav Klaus has vetoed an amendment to the criminal code aimed at relieving overcrowded prisons. The president said that while the effort to resolve the problem was commendable, provisions such as allowing prison governors to grant early paroles were destructive of the justice system. He also criticised a measure allowing child support debtors to have their drivers’ licences revoked instead of facing jail time, which he said was nonsensical and counterproductive. Mr Klaus said the problem of prison overcrowding should be resolved using existing laws and by changing judicial practices.

Work begins on renaming Prague international airport

The physical work of renaming the international airport in Prague after the late president Havel began on Monday. Large panels bearing the new name Václav Havel Airport Prague (Letiště Václava Havla Praha in Czech) were being mounted in the three main terminals and on the arrivals runway. The official name change and accompanying ceremony is planned for October 5, which would be Mr Havel’s 76 birthday. The idea to rename the airport after the last Czechoslovak and first Czech president’s was launched in the days following his death last December, and was petitioned by tens of thousands of people.

Prague transit authority to discuss selection of new director

The heads of the Prague transit authority are to meet on Monday to discuss the selection of the new director. The former head of the Public Transport Company (DPP), Vladimír Lich, was unexpectedly sacked in mid-August and was replaced by interim director Magdalena Češková. Neither Lich nor Češková are expected to be reappointed. DPP is the largest company controlled by Prague City Hall. The selection committee for the new chief will be made up of city hall and company representatives.