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There is no question of the risk to the coalition government, calculated though it may be: on Monday Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla asked parliament to schedule a vote of confidence early next week. This as a means of reasserting the government's authority just days after the coalition, which holds the slimmest of margins in parliament, failed to stand to the man behind presidential candidate Jan Sokol. The government's failure to hold together cast doubt on the overall ability of the government to function, and a vote of confidence could help

Ceske Drahy, the national rail operator in the Czech Republic has replaced board chairman and CEO Dalibor Zeleny. It has been rumored for months that Zeleny would be replaced because of a slowdown in the restructuring process the Czech Republic's largest employer.

One of the most significant aspects of this presidential election was the manner in which it boosted the position of the communist party. Having suffered years of enforced isolation by Vaclav Havel's refusal to meet or deal with them during his thirteen years in office, the communists made it perfectly clear to the future head of state that their support would not come cheap. Although both presidential candidates rejected speculation regarding a "behind the scenes" deal, political analysts find it hard to believe that the communists will not demand

A new week and a new president for the Czech Republic - President elect Vaclav Klaus will pay a visit to Prague Castle on Monday to carry out what he calls an "inventory", although how much he's planning to change remains unclear. More will be known after Friday, when Mr Klaus is inaugurated at a ceremony at Prague Castle. My colleague spent all last Friday - the day of Mr Klaus's election - at the Castle, Rob, an exciting day I imagine.

Vaclav Klaus and Jan Sokol stood for the Czech presidency on Friday morning, uncertain about their chances of winning the support of the majority of both houses of parliament. But, as the result of a recent public opinion poll suggests, if the elections were held through a direct popular ballot, it is clear who the winner would be. Dita Asiedu reports:

So, after three attempts to elect a successor to former president Vaclav Havel, the new Czech president is Vaclav Klaus. The man who served as prime minister of the Czech Republic from 1993 to 1997 is well known, but internationally he can not yet match the profile of Vaclav Havel.

Whatever the outcome of today's vote, one thing is obvious: the Czech presidency will not be the same as it was under Vaclav Havel. Both candidates - Vaclav Klaus and Jan Sokol - have emphasised that they would be different heads of state than their predecessor. In exclusive interviews for Radio Prague, the two presidential hopefuls outlined their visions for the Czech presidency.

Radio Prague's Rob Cameron has been covering the election throughout this Friday - we join him now to discuss the outcome.

Czech presidential elections are underway at a special joint session of parliament at the Prague Castle, the third attempt to elect a new president in the last six weeks. Two earlier attempts ended in stalemate. Two candidates now are vying for the presidency, former prime minister Vaclav Klaus and philosophy professor Jan Sokol. Radio Prague's Rob Cameron has been covering the joint-session at Prague castle and he indicated early on that the election was extremely difficult to predict.

The Czech Television Council on Wednesday failed to elect a new general director for the country's public television network. Apart from prolonging instability at Czech Television, this development has evoked grave doubts regarding the competence of the Council itself and the existing law on public broadcasting.