The Prague Post Online: News: Mayor's trip to Everest raises ire

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Mayor's trip to Everest raises ire

Critics blast Bém for taking off seven weeks to tackle Himalayas

By Jeff White
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
February 14th, 2007 issue

Some politicians are criticizing Prague Mayor Pavel Bém’s decision to take almost two months off starting in late March to join a Czech-Slovak mountaineering expedition that plans to climb the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest.

“A mayor is like a manager of a big company,” says City Hall Councilor Jiří Witzany, a European Democrat who blasts Bém, a Civic Democrat, in an interview with the daily Mladá fronta Dnes. “I don’t know any such manager who would decide to leave for two months.”

Bém, who last month topped a STEM poll of the country’s 12 most popular politicians, with a 63 percent approval rating, will turn over City Hall to his deputy, Rudolf Blažek, according to press reports.

The two met together Feb. 10–11 to discuss a list of projects and priorities that Blažek is to focus on during Bém’s absence.

Bém is asking for an unpaid leave of absence rather than using vacations days for the trip.

Responding to some of his critics, Bém has told media that the transition between him and Blažek will be smooth.

“The city council will have a program statement and a clear schedule for its actions,” he says. “However, this is a unique opportunity for my critics. They will always find a reason [to complain].”

This is not the first tine the 43-year-old mayor’s wanderlust has sparked controversy.

In 2005, Bém took a trip to Papua New Guinea while the Czech Republic celebrated the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, which rankled war veterans.

When the country voted in a national referendum in 2003 on whether to join the European Union, Bém was in the United States on an extended, cross-country road trip.

So, perhaps his opponents are growing more used to his long absences: While the Social Democrats (ČSSD) have been quick to question Bém’s latest travel plans, they are doing so with a hint of resignation.

“If he’s decided to go to the Himalayas, he will simply do so,” says Petr Hulinský, a ČSSD Prague leader.

Bém is giving assurances that although he may be gone a while, he will not be out of touch. He promises to return to Prague within 48 hours should an emergency occur.

The Czech media say Bém is an accomplished mountaineer, though few details have been reported about his specific triumphs in the heights.

But the mayor himself is laying out an aggressive goal for Everest, which sees thousands attempt to climb it each year, and only a fraction succeed.

Bém tells Mladá fronta Dnes his six-man team plans to climb the 29,028-foot (8,848-meter) peak “alpine style”: fast, light and without the use of supplemental oxygen.

“I am currently trying to put on some weight,” Bém says of his preparations.

A number of companies are sponsoring Bém’s group, which should help defray the huge cost of mounting a Himalayan expedition; the Nepalese government alone often charges around $25,000 (541,750 Kč) for a climbing permit.

Last year 15 people died while attempting Everest.

— Material from the Czech News Agency was used in this report.

Jeff White can be reached at jwhite@praguepost.com

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