The Czech Lower House adopted new legislation on Tuesday meant to end a month-long rebellion by public television employees that sparked the largest public protests since the end of Communism. The law, approved by a 120-50 margin with 30 legislators absent or abstaining, calls for the appointment of an interim station director who could appease the staff. They launched a strike against a new director-general in December, contending he would interfere with their editorial independence. Tuesday's parliamentary vote overrode a veto earlier this month by the upper house, which contended that the legislation lacked guarantees that the station would remain independent. The law must be signed by President Vaclav Havel.
The chances of the Czech Republic to be chosen for a new BMW factory were supported by the Prime Minister Miloš Zeman yesterday at the meeting in Bavaria. A decision should be made in about a month.
The Czech branch of ABN Amro said on Tuesday that it was ending its activities on the ailing local stock market due to poor volumes. The local unit of ABN Amro said it would continue trading in bonds, which has been its primary focus. ABN Amro has been a market maker for two out of seven blue chip issues, Ceske Radiokomunikace and Philip Morris CR.
The Czech koruna closed Tuesday's quiet trading firmer after fluctuating between 35.11 and 35.29 to the euro.
Late on Tuesday the koruna was trading at 35.15/18 from the morning's 35.26/29 to the euro and from 35.20 late on Monday. Koruna/dollar stood at 37.43/46 from the morning's 37.46/49 and late Monday's 37.63/66.
Bonds firmed. The longest state 6.40/10 gained 20 basis points to 96.60/90 late on Monday, yielding 6.91/86 percent. The state 6.75/05 rose to 101.25/55 from late Monday's 101.15/45, yielding 6.38/30 percent.
(David Marek)