Battle of the bulge
On 9 June, two Hungarian politicians began a two-month long contest to lose weight. The two challengers, Smallholder MP Róbert Molnár and Socialist Andor Schmuck, said that whoever has lost most weight after two months wins, and should the contest end in a draw they will go on for another month.
There is, however, more to the challenge than simply losing weight. If Molnár wins, he expects Schmuck to organise a disznótoros (feast on pig-killing day) with Gypsy music in his electoral area. Should Schmuck win, he will expect Molnár to build a sandpit in a playground in Göd, Schmuck's home town.
Movement for a Devastated Slovakia
The website of the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia (HZDS) has been attacked by hackers, who changed the party's name to the Movement for a Devastated Slovakia, and the Movement for Drastic Feeble-Mindedness. According to the revised version of the party statutes, the HZDS brings together "people of all ethnic groups and religions seeking rapid and easy enrichment." Photos of HZDS leaders were altered to resemble Hitler and the Devil.
Poolside porn
Rīga Mayor Andris Ārgalis is ordering an investigation into allegations that German television RTL filmed a soft-porn film at the pool of a Rīga secondary school. A member of the crew vouched that no "lewd" acts were performed, but officials are livid at such a thing being filmed at a school.
To protect and be served
Hungarian daily Magyar HĂrlap reports information has leaked that the Budapest Public Prosecution Office has begun investigating a case of extortion involving a police officer from the department of Districts VI and VII.
After watching a brothel in these Districts for a longer period of time, detectives of the Public Prosecution Office entered the building to the surprise of the girls, who were expecting a police officer. There, the girls explained that the policeman had threathened to close the brothel unless the "free service" continued.
Using the "services" in itself is not illegal, but extortion is. Later, after following up on a lead, the detectives ended up in an apartment brothel in Angyalföld, where they were met by girls who told them they were surprised by their visit as they have a very good relationship with one of the district's police officers who often visits the girls with his friends.
The girls went on to say they had been used for free sexual services, which they thought was very insulting. The paper concludes that although this is the first such case reported in the capital, it may not be the last.
Clipped wings
Already bogged down by construction work, RÄ«ga's Kalnciems Bridge had a new obstruction - an airplane. Apparently, someone towing an airplane with his car (despite not having a permit to haul something that large across it) lost the aircraft on the bridge. Civil aviation authorities refused to get involved, saying the plane had no wings and other necessary equipment to define it as an airplane. Police are still investigating the case.
A capital idea?
Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar became his provocative best when he suggested that Estonia's capital could move to Tartu. Condemnations poured in from all sides of the political spectrum and various other sectors and media. One famous commentator in Eesti Päevaleht joked in a column about moving the capital to Helsinki.
Laar maintains that it was put out only to provoke a discussion. This comes after the government decided earlier this year to move the Education Ministry to Tartu, which was followed by a suggestion from some in the cabinet to move several other ministries to the southern university town.
CER Staff, 12 June 2000
Moving on:
