Jaroslav Kubera, the chairman of the Czech upper house of parliament, died on Monday morning, the chamber’s spokeswoman said. He was 72. Kubera gave a speech at his party’s congress during the weekend and was not known to be suffering from a serious illness. Kubera, a long-time popular mayor of the northern spa town of Teplice known for his frank talk and common-sense approach to politics, was liked by many as well as despised by opponents.
