13.12.2024

An interview with Hejtman of Ústí

The new governor of the Ústecký kraj (Ústí region), Richard Brabec, spoke about his goals and perspectives in an interview with the daily newspaper Deník.

In terms of content, he focused on two topics: firstly, he would like to direct six to seven billion euros from the EU's Just Transition Fund into the district to support economic transformation and reduce the gap between the district and other regions. He sees his district, together with the Karlovy Vary Region, as the least developed in the Czech Republic, while the Moravian-Silesian Region (around Ostrava), which is also often among the laggards, is, in his opinion, on a much better path, partly because of successful universities.

The second important topic for him is the so-called excluded neighborhoods, where socially disadvantaged people – often Roma – live in concentrated and undignified conditions. There are many property owners there who make a killing by accommodating poor people in completely dilapidated houses because their rent is paid directly to them by the state. Brabec wants to put a stop to this and push for legal changes in Prague. In his opinion, residential buildings for the poor are better off in municipal hands, which is quite a remarkable statement for an ANO politician. He also strongly opposed the initiative of a senator from the conservative ODS party, who proposed throwing the homeless in jail.

Regarding his own prospects, he was somewhat unclear as to whether he would remain Hejtman for more than a year. He will run again in the fall 2025 parliamentary elections and, if elected, may vacate his seat in Ústí. It should be noted that he came into this role unexpectedly after the previous candidate dropped out due to corruption investigations a few weeks before this year's district elections. It is possible that he was just quickly pulling the potatoes out of the fire for the ANO.

Ham instead of beer in Litoměřice

The site of the former municipal brewery in the middle of Litoměřice is in a prominent location – right next to the castle – and is probably best known for its striking chimney. Beer has been brewed here since 1720 (including a beer called Kalich), but production had to be discontinued in 2002. The city then acquired the site and, with the help of funding, partially renovated it in order to lease it to a new brewing company. However, the new tenant's activities were not successful and it had to withdraw.

Now a local manufacturer of high-quality ham and other sausage products, PRŠUTÉRIE Chovaneček (note the nicely Czechized Italian), has taken over the area and will start production as early as January. The next part of the area to be redeveloped was officially opened today. For the city, this is a further step towards revitalizing and reviving this neighborhood, which is located exactly between the famous market square and the castle, two important tourist highlights. The city has already done a lot at Tyršovo náměstí, and next year the inner area of the brewery grounds will be redeveloped.

Few women in science

The position of women in science in the Czech Republic is worse than in any other EU country. This is reported by Landesecho, citing a report by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic based on data from 2005 to 2022. The total share of Czech women in top university and research positions in 2022 was 13.5 percent. Across the board (not just in top positions), the share of women was 28.7 percent.

Female scientists believe that women in the Czech Republic have to work much harder than their male colleagues to achieve the same positions. Although the number of female doctoral students in the Czech Republic is increasing, there are still too few women in senior positions. The differences are already apparent in the education of young people, as technical and scientific fields continue to be promoted as male professions.

Old Fugau inhabitants wanted

The town of Fugau (Czech: Fukov) was located directly on the Bohemian-Saxon border in the Schluckenauer Zipfel (or Fugauer Zipfel, to be precise), a bulge on a bulge of the border between Taubenheim and Neusalza-Spremberg. The railroad line from Dresden to Zittau passes here for about 1 km over Czech territory (see map).

In 1945, the village had 145 houses and a population of about 800. After World War II, the German inhabitants were expelled and the village was completely demolished by 1960. In contrast to Vorderzinnwald, for example, there are hardly any traces of the earlier settlement here.

The initiative ‘Světlo pro Fukov’ (Light for Fugau) would like to use a series of events next year to commemorate the fact that the village completely disappeared from the map 65 years ago. On the one hand, there will be a happening on site in September, and on the other hand, an exhibition will be organized.

For this, they are looking for witnesses who lived in Fugau and whose memories they would like to record. They are also looking for photos or other objects for their exhibition.

Anyone who is a contemporary witness or knows contemporary witnesses or can help with photos and objects is cordially invited to contact the initiative by email at zaniklaobecfukov@gmail.com or by phone at +420 732 745 571.

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