Wednesday News Briefing

The LIDEM party will remain a junior member of the governing coalition and will negotiate with the Civic Democratic Party and TOP 09 on drafting a new coalition pact, party leader Karolina Peake told journalists today. The party's board thus cancelled a previous resolution to withdraw its ministers from the government as of January 10. "It is a pragmatic, realistic decision," Peake said.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is sending a mission to monitor the Jan. 11 presidential election, the Foreign Affairs Ministry announced on its website, adding that the six-member mission comprises representatives of Italy, Macedonia, Canada, Poland and Spain. OSCE monitors examine the course and legislative level of elections, political parties' confidence in the regularity of elections, and the openness and freedom of the media. "The forthcoming monitoring mission...to the Czech Republic is relatively small. It has been motivated mainly by the fact that the direct presidential election is being held for the first time in history," ministry officials said.

Artist Frantisek Kupka's abstract painting The Shape of Blue (1913), which a foreign buyer auctioned off for a record 55.75 million Kc in Prague last April, will continue to be a national heritage item and it cannot be permanently exported. Culture Ministry officials said the ministry dismissed the gallery owner's objections against previous verdicts. Kupka (1871-1957) made significant contributions to modern abstract painting. He spent a large part of his life in France where he also died. Vladimir Lekes, executive of the Adolf Loos apartment and Gallery that put up the painting for auction, has indicated he would consider legal action if the work's cultural heritage status were confirmed.

Health Minister Leos Heger (TOP 09) is preparing a new bill banning indoor smoking in restaurants, as well as the sale of cigarettes and alcohol through vending machines and at kiosks, he told journalists today. In addition, the sale of alcohol or cigarettes to persons under 18 and under 15 would be fined one million and two million crowns, respectively.

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