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Czech Republic: Political Leaders To Discuss TV Dispute


Prague, 2 January 2001 (RFE/RL) -- Czech political leaders today are expected to discuss the crisis at national public television, where journalists are staging a rebellion against a new general director. News agencies (CTK/DPA) report that the major parties, the Social Democrats and the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), plus the Freedom Union and the Christian Democrats, will meet in Prague. ODS leader and Chamber of Deputies chairman Vaclav Klaus will reportedly present an eight-point plan designed to solve the dispute. Approximately 40 journalists have been occupying the TV's Prague headquarters since December 24 in protest against the appointment of director Jiri Hodac, whose selection they say was politically motivated. Hodac is seen as being too close to Klaus. Hodac has denied the criticism and called the strike illegal. Prime Minister Milos Zeman's Social Democrats have already urged Hodac to resign, as has President Vaclav Havel.

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