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The Social Democrats, the senior members of the Czech Republic's coalition government, have found themselves in an increasingly difficult position following dismal results in recent elections in the European Parliament. Not only is the prime minister facing increased calls to step down as party chairman, he is also threatened by some within his party who would like to see the Social Democrats form a minority government - with tacit support from the Communists. But, that would bring the Communists closer to power than they've been in fourteen

For Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla it can't be easy: on the one hand acknowledging his party's numbing defeat in last week's European Parliament elections, on the other vowing to slog on as party chairman despite increased calls within Social Democrat ranks to step down.

On Thursday evening, Smetana's Litomysl International Opera Festival opens for the 46th time. Taking place in the little Bohemian town of Litomysl - the birthplace of Czech composer Bedrich Smetana - the festival has a special significance this year as it marks the 180th anniversary of the birth and the 120th anniversary of the death of the great composer of the Czech national revival.

The number of "dollar millionaires" in the Czech Republic is on the rise. There are now about 11,000 Czechs with liquid assets exceeding $1 million dollars, about 1,000 more than there were last year, according to a new study.

On what day do Czechs begin earning for themselves? By some calculations, "Tax Freedom Day" came on the 15th of June this year, four days later than last year and nine days later than in the year 2000. Using different methodology, others calculate that Czechs will be still be "working for the government" for weeks to come.

As fans of football from around the world will know the European Championships in Portugal - Euro 2004 - have gotten underway and Tuesday evening saw the highly-favoured Czechs open against Latvia - a newcomer to the Euro championship. And though no one expected this game to be exceedingly difficult for the Czech side it almost proved a shocker...

Czech leaders join their EU colleagues in Brussels this week, for a summit expected to be dominated by tough talks on the planned European Constitution. However even if the EU does manage to hammer out a compromise, the document's future is far from assured. Many governments - including the Czech government - have hinted they will put the draft to their people in a referendum. But could this be inviting failure, in the wake of European Parliament elections characterised by apathy on one hand and success for Eurosceptics on the other?

The governing coalition led by Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla was soundly defeated at the weekend in this country's first-ever European parliamentary elections. But anger against incumbent governments and a shift to the right were not unique to the Czech Republic.

One of the possibilities for such a low voter turnout at the European Parliament Elections over the weekend may have been due to competing events. The 2004 International Brass Band Music Festival drew many to the Central Bohemian town of Kolin. Kay Grigar was there.

In the past four days, over forty percent of the electorate in the twenty-five European Union member states went to the polls to elect new members to the European Parliament. Just a week before the elections, the EU commissioner for enlargement Gunter Verheugen warned voter apathy could result in the election of anti-EU factions: "I must say that I'm really worried about the fact that everywhere low turn out can produce strange results. There is the danger that even anti-European formations and organisations could win sufficient support to have