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The fate of the Czech government hangs in the balance in the wake of a corruption scandal involving the junior coalition party Public Affairs. The prime minister’s intention to dismiss two Public Affairs ministers perceived as close allies of Transport Minister Vít Bárta who resigned on Friday amidst allegations of corruption, have raised the ire of the smallest party in government. Public Affairs has threatened to walk out unless its coalition partners sweep before their own doors first – triggering a broad cabinet reshuffle. The deadlock over

Five days of scandal rocking the Public Affairs party came to a head on Friday with the resignation from the cabinet of the man recognised as the party’s unofficial leader, Transport Minister Vít Bárta. After seeming to consolidate support in the party, amid allegations he had bought the silence and loyalty of certain members with up to a million crowns or more, Mr Bárta announced we would be leaving so as not to damage the government’s ongoing work on reforms.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Prague for a two-day visit, the first by an Israeli PM to the Czech Republic. Mr Netanyahu and his Czech counterpart, Petr Nečas, discussed ways of boosting cooperation between the two countries in science and research, industry and defence; the officials also praised the excellent relations between both countries.

Some two dozen members of the Syrian community in the Czech Republic staged a modest rally on Wednesday in front the country’s embassy in Prague. In the second such protest held in the Czech capital, they supported demands voiced by protesters across Syria, and called on the government to stop the violence against its people.

Corruption allegations against the junior member of the governing coalition, Public Affairs, are threatening to further unbalance a government that has seen its share of scandals over the past months. Public Affairs’ deputy chairman Jaroslav Škárka was dismissed from the self-styled anti-corruption party on Tuesday, after his claims that he was getting paid to ensure his silence on the party’s financial dealings became public. His allegations against party leader and transport minister Vít Bárta have unfurled speculation whether or not the government

Prague’s famous astronomical clock known as the Orloj, dating back to 1410 and gracing the tower of the Old Town Hall, is one of the city’s biggest attractions, drawing crowds on the hour every single day. The chimes and a famous procession of apostles (moving sculptures) in the clock’s windows, are a must for any visitor, and are no doubt the subject of countless youtube videos and family photos. But anyone visiting on the Old Town Square these days has been less than lucky and won’t see the famous clock in operation: on Monday it was turned off

The Public Affairs party expelled one of its top members on Tuesday evening, deputy chairman Jaroslav Škárka, after he had told the press that the party was paying him under the table to ensure his silence on financial dealings. If true, such accusations could ruin the self-styled anti-corruption party, and whether true or not, they further unbalance a coalition government already beleaguered by scandals. Christian Falvey has a rundown of the events of the last few days.

Police trades unions leaders are set to meet Prime Minister Petr Nečas later on Tuesday to ask him to replace Interior Minister Radek John. More than a half of Czech police officers, along with thousands of fire fighters and civilian security forces employees, have signed a petition demanding Mr John’s resignation. They blame the minister for failing to prevent higher cuts in their salaries than he initially promised.

Minority and human rights groups in the Czech Republic have sent an open letter to Education Minister Josef Dobeš over his decision to appoint a controversial ultra-conservative politician as an advisor. Ladislav Bátora once stood as an independent candidate for the now-defunct far-right National Party, and is now head of the Eurosceptic movement DOST.

According to a recent poll conducted by the SANEP agency, nearly three in four Czechs are against the introduction of the euro. Nearly half of the respondents even say they would vote against joining the EU today – a big shift from the result of the 2003 referendum, when 77 percent of the country’s population voted in favor. David Král, director of the Czech think tank Europeum, speaks about the connection between the financial crisis and growing reservations towards the EU, and whether or not he found the result surprising.