Jiri Hodac, whose Dec. 20 appointment as the head of the Czech public television network sparked a two-week strike and a storm of public criticism, was hospitalised in an intensive care unit. Lower House chairman Vaclav Klaus, leader of the ODS party on Thursday accepted a government request and declared a "legislative emergency", putting the amendment on a fast-track approval process. The Lower House is expected to hold a special session on January 12 on the law. It could take effect in days if the upper house, the Senate, also rushes it through. The law would dismiss the current council 30 days after it takes effect.
The government approved the bailout of Universal Health Insurance (VZP) through the temporary transfer to Konsolidační banka of bad debt of state-owned companies. The size of bailout is expected to be CZK 4 - 5 billion.
The Czech central bank (ČNB announced it would begin releasing voting results of its decision about interest rates and currency intervention. Press releases will include only numbers, not names.
The Czech koruna gave back early gains against the euro on Thursday to close flat from Wednesday's levels. The koruna ended at 35. 19, mostly shadowed euro/dollar movements. Against the dollar, the crown ended at 37.12 from Wednesday's 37.28.
Bonds edged higher. The longest state 6.40/10 stood at 96.05/35 from Wednesday's 95.90/96.20, yielding 6.99/94 percent. The state 6.75/05 was up at 100.70/101.00 from 100.50/80, yielding 6.54/46 percent.
(David Marek)