Weekly review no. 47
13.09.2024
Czech Republic prepares for floods
Meteorologists are expecting masses of rain similar to those in the flood years 1997 and 2002 in the Czech Republic this weekend. In 1997, the country had to contend with a flood in Moravia, which turned into the Oder flood in Germany days later. In 2002, the Bohemian part of the country was affected. As in Germany, the Elbe reached record levels.
It could be the same this time. The masses of water are mainly raining down over the Jeseníky Mountains. Heavy rain is also expected in the Krkonoše Mountains. The Jeseníky Mountains drain into the Morava and the Oder, the Krkonoše into the Elbe. However, rainfall is forecast for the whole of the Czech Republic. According to the Hydrometeorological Institute, water levels are rising rapidly due to the rain that started on Friday. The water levels were already high anyway because the dams were releasing more water to hold back the floodwaters. In Ústí nad Labem, the first flood warning level is expected for Saturday afternoon. This corresponds to a water level of 4.50 meters. 24 hours later, the mark for the third warning level of 6 meters is expected to be exceeded. However, the fourth level for extreme flooding (10.85 meters) is unlikely to be reached.
At the same time, the Hydrometeorological Institute assumes that the consequences will be less dramatic than in 1997 and 2002. The overall weather situation is more favorable today, as the heavy rainfall will hit soils and reservoirs that are ready to absorb it after the dry weeks. The situation could only become dramatic in the mountains because less water can be retained there.
In addition, the Czech Republic has invested over 1 billion euros in flood protection measures over the past 22 years. The effect of these measures was already evident during the Elbe floods in 2013. "This time, we have a three-day head start compared to the floods 20 years ago," Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný told the daily newspaper Hospodářské noviny.
At the same time, the Czech Republic now also has a better warning system. The authorities actively communicate with residents via text messages, apps and village radios. Residents, in turn, can quickly report disaster situations such as fallen trees via photos in apps.
The president shows off the crown jewels
They have an air of mystery about them. The Bohemian crown jewels are only displayed on special occasions. Seeing them is a bit like traveling to Mecca. Every inhabitant of the Czech Republic should have seen them at least once in their life. In a few days it will be that time again. From September 17 to 30, the crown jewels will be on display at Prague Castle (Hradcany) on the occasion of the feast day of St. Wenceslas (September 28). The Wenceslas crown, orb and sceptre will be on display daily from 9 am to 5 pm in the Vladislav Hall in the Old Royal Palace. Admission is free, but long queues are expected. On September 19 and September 26 until 1 p.m., the exhibition is reserved for school groups only. On September 16, the crown jewels will be moved from the Crown Chamber of St. Vitus Cathedral to the Vladislav Hall. All seven holders of the keys must come together for the opening of the Crown Chamber. In addition to the President, they include the Prime Minister and the Archbishop of Prague.
There is hopeful news for all those who cannot make it to the crown jewels this time. While the crown jewels were previously only displayed on special occasions, President Petr Pavel plans to display them regularly once a year.
Czech Republic ahead of regional elections
In the Czech Republic, the regional parliaments will be re-elected on September 20 and 21. In addition to regional priorities and special features, the elections are also seen as a mood test for the national elections, which will take place next fall. In nationwide polls, the ANO party of former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is clearly in the lead. His party is also considered to have the best chances in the districts. Whether it will actually win in all districts is still questionable. It is also questionable whether ANO will then be involved in the district governments. According to the Kantar polling institute, ANO has the least chance of being involved in the district leadership in the Liberec district, where the mayoral party of the incumbent district governor Martin Půta is traditionally strong.
In the Ústí district, however, ANO is the favorite. The district is traditionally a stronghold of the Babiš party. This also applies after the ANO lead candidate Marek Hrabáč was involved in a corruption scandal and was replaced by the former environment minister Richard Brabec. Brabec is considered a close confidant of party leader Andrej Babiš. The question is whether ANO can repeat its result of just under 26%. Without the affair, ANO's chances would have been well over 30 percent.
Behind ANO, the right-wing populist SPD, the liberal-conservative ODS (Civic Party) and the mayors (STAN) are considered to have the best chances of entering parliament. However, they are likely to finish well behind ANO. The alliances Lepší sever (Better North) led by the mayor of Most, Jan Paparega, and Stačilo! led by the former captain Oldřich Bubeníček also have a good chance of getting over the 5 percent hurdle. It could be close for the Spojenci pro kraj (Allies for the District - coalition of Christian Democrats, Liberals and Greens) and the Pirates.
An alliance of ANO, ODS and Spojenci pro kraj has governed the Ústí district for four years.
At the same time, a third of the senators in the Czech upper house are also elected.
Cities and municipalities with record surpluses
Budget holes, austerity programs. What makes politicians in German cities and municipalities despair are foreign words for many Czech municipalities. This year, together with the districts, they are once again reporting record surpluses. At the end of the first half of the year, they totaled 82 billion crowns (the equivalent of around 3.3 billion euros). 220 cities and municipalities and several districts contributed to the surplus. The surpluses are partly parked at the Czech National Bank as term deposits against interest on savings. The Czech government uses the relatively low interest rate to pay off its national debt at low cost.
Critics complain that the money would be better invested. Other voices are calling for a redistribution of taxes. This is because both the districts and the municipalities are financed from the tax equalization of the state budget. The state therefore collects most of the taxes and returns them to the districts and municipalities as part of the regional tax distribution. However, a change in tax distribution is not foreseeable. The necessary two-thirds majority is lacking in parliament.
October 12 becomes Samizdat Day
The Czech parliament has designated October 12 as Samizdat Day. This is to commemorate the independent publishing activities during the communist era, particularly in the 1970s and 1980s. At that time, the works of many writers were not allowed to be published. They were therefore distributed in small editions by Samizdat. One of the best-known self-publishers was Edice Petlice by dissident and writer Ludvík Vaculík.
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