Meanwhile in Czechia... 7/25
14.02.2025
Jetřichovice hinders the rescue of a landmark
If you walk from Jetřichovice to Marienfelsen, you will see a large, impressive building on the right-hand side of the village, which almost looks like a castle, but has unfortunately seen better days. It was a sanatorium for children opened in 1927, but has been empty since 2005. In 2006, the district sold it to a private owner who wanted to build a hotel in it. However, this plan fell through and nothing happened for a long time, and despite public pressure, the district did not want to buy the building back. In 2020, it was acquired by an operator of various hotels in the area who wanted to convert it into a luxury wellness hotel. Many were happy that this offered a chance to preserve the building.
Today, however, the Jetřichovice municipal council has adopted a new zoning plan that prevents the construction of any further buildings on the site of the former sanatorium. The owner criticized this in advance, as it would make it impossible to economically renovate and use the large building. He said he would not accept this decision and would sue the municipality for damages. Other residents are also dissatisfied with the devaluation of their properties as a result of the new plan and have announced their intention to fight back.
According to several press reports, the whole thing makes a shoddy impression: the new land use plan was approved in just 8 minutes and without debate. The council meeting took place in the morning, which is very unusual and makes it difficult for citizens to participate. A discussion about the plan was prevented on the grounds that the citizens had had 12 years to speak. This is probably unlawful. The plan was only available in paper form in advance. It also appears that the new plan has increased the value of land owned by the mayor and deputy mayor themselves. It can therefore be assumed that the whole matter will end up in court. Incidentally, the municipality and its mayor are already involved in a trial for alleged attempted subsidy fraud.
No new casino in Hřensko
The border town of Hřensko, a popular excursion destination in Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland, known for the Edmund Gorge and the nearby Prebisch Gate, has had a regulation banning gambling in certain places since 2015. This was extended to the entire municipal area in 2024. A company that had previously applied for a permit for a new casino was subsequently refused. It lodged an appeal against this with the Ministry of the Interior, which was rejected this week, reports Czech Radio.
The municipality argued that this type of business could destroy the genius loci of Hřensko - that of a purely touristy, peaceful village. According to Mayor Kateřina Horáková, a majority of residents and businesspeople had spoken out against it in an unofficial survey. There were also fears of crime, which the local police alone would be unable to combat.
Ústí district brings up the rear in terms of quality of life
Bank Česká spořitelna and the "Europe in Data" platform have analyzed the quality of life in the Czech Republic. The city with the highest quality of life is Turnov in the Liberec region, followed by Luhačovice and Nové Město in Moravia. Bringing up the rear is Podbořany in the Ústí district, shortly followed by Bílina in the same district and Karviná near Ostrava.
Among the districts, Ústí performs worst overall and, together with the districts of Karlovy Vary and Moravian Silesia, forms the "usual trio" of bottom performers, which is also often seen in other surveys. Half of the 20 worst-ranked cities are located in the Ústí district. The very poor performance of Teplice (201st), Děčín (196th) and Žatec (193rd), for example, is somewhat surprising.
The study looked at 37 indicators such as the economic situation, healthcare, education, amenities for residents and the quality of the transport infrastructure. The country was divided into 206 micro-regions, most of which cover a city and its surrounding area. It was found that a poor ranking is often dependent on factors such as unemployment, the number of foreclosures or population migration. The crime rate or the affordability of housing deprived other cities of good rankings, e.g. also Prague.
In some cases, the differences between the regions in the Czech Republic are serious, e.g. in terms of poverty indicators, which is partly due to the distribution of severely disadvantaged and socially vulnerable groups such as the Roma. Nevertheless, political efforts to achieve greater equality between the regions or to integrate disadvantaged groups are very limited. It was therefore all the more striking that President Petr Pavel made special mention of this topic in his New Year's address. Some observers even suspect that the importance of this topic became clear to him during his travels around the country and helped him to overcome his now apparent weariness with office. In his second term of office, which he is now seeking after all, he will continue to devote himself to this issue.
For those who want to take a closer look at the data: To the Prosperity Index of the regions (Czech only)
Czech economy back in the TOP10
In an annual index on the health of national economies, also compiled by Česká spořitelna and the "Europe in Data" platform, the Czech Republic has improved significantly and is in 9th place (2024: 14th). This index does not describe the size or value added of an economy, but rather its internal condition.
The most important factor for the improvement was the significant fall in inflation. The retention of more income and capital in the country was also rated positively. In contrast, the Czech Republic's character as a "low-wage factory" with too little added value is problematic.
Sweden has the best economic health, followed by Germany and Denmark. At the bottom of the ranking are Bulgaria, Poland and Greece. This may come as something of a surprise in the case of Poland, but is attributed to its high national debt and low investment rates.
Czech Republic and Germany downgraded in the Corruption Index
In Transparency International's Corruption Index 2024 published this week, both Germany and the Czech Republic have dropped places. Germany scored 75 out of a possible 100 points, three fewer than in 2023, placing it in 15th place (2023: 9th place) on the list of 180 countries. The Czech Republic is in 46th place on the list with 56 points (2023: 57 points, 41st place). Scandinavian countries, Singapore and New Zealand repeatedly occupy the top spots.
Germany was criticized for problems in connection with the North Stream pipeline, the political influence of the automotive industry, a lack of lobby control and the smooth transition of politicians into business. In the Czech Republic, the problem is rather the lack of a government strategy against corruption and the slow implementation of corresponding measures, often only under pressure from Brussels.
Hard-working beavers save millions
In the Brdy Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Brdy) near Plzeň, the administration has been planning the renaturation of a section of the area for six years. Meadows are to be transformed into a wetland using dams. Kč 30 million (approx. EUR 1.2 million) had already been earmarked for this and the building permits for the dams had been issued.
But the beavers were quicker than the authorities: In just one night, they are said to have created several dams - probably only 6 to 8 specimens - that fulfill exactly the desired purpose, reports Radio Prague. Allegedly, however, they had not even taken part in the Europe-wide tender for the construction work. The authorities are nevertheless satisfied with the work and can now use the budgeted funds for other purposes.