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Following the resignation of Prime Minister Petr Nečas, the race is on to find a suitable successor from among the Civic Democratic Party. The Civ Dems, together with coalition partners TOP 09 and LIDEM, are looking to put forward a candidate within a matter of days who could renew the government and remain in power until regular elections next year.

The opposition Social Democrats in the Prague city council have agreed to support TOP 09’s nominees for top positions at City Hall. On Thursday, the party’s Tomáš Hudeček will become the first mayor of Prague in 22 years not from the Civic Democratic Party. TOP 09 will hold a minority leadership but have been promised tacit support from across the aisle.

Prime Minister Petr Nečas bowed to mounting pressure from the opposition and his own coalition partners on Sunday, announcing his decision to step down over a scandal that has shaken the government to its foundations. The move, which has effectively brought down the coalition government, has plunged the country into a period of political uncertainty almost a year ahead of scheduled general elections.

With Prime Minister Petr Nečas stepping down, there are a still a number of different scenarios according to which the current government crisis may be resolved. What is clear is that it all hinges on President Miloš Zeman, who has the power to appoint a new prime minister or even a new government all together. Radio Prague spoke to the political analyst Jiří Pehe and asked him what could realistically happen next.

What is being described as one of the Czech Republic’s biggest ever political scandals has seen more astonishing twists. The most remarkable development has been the charging of the prime minister’s chief of staff with using the country’s military intelligence chiefs as a kind of personal spy service. But despite these damning accusations, the prime minister is stoutly resisting calls for his head.

A raid by the country’s organised crime unit at the Office of the Government and several other institutions has sent shockwaves throughout the country. Among those detained are former Civic Democrat MPs and a close aide to the prime minister. The scandal has rocked the Czech political scene and there is speculation it could result in the government’s fall.

Minister of Culture Alena Hanáková has announced that she is to step down at the end of the month. Even though she had come in for much criticism in arts circles, no immediate reason for her departure has been made clear.

This Tuesday marked the end of the first 100 days in office for President Miloš Zeman. Radio Prague spoke with political analyst Jiří Pehe about what was surprising about President Zeman’s actions during these past three months, and how we can asses them.

The police are pushing for a ban on the sale of alcohol over the internet in the Czech Republic, which last year saw dozens of deaths caused by illegally produced spirits. As greater emphasis is placed on the provenance of booze, officers say stocks of alcohol sold online are very hard to police. For their part, retailers say such a ban could cost them huge sums of money.

At a traditional ceremony in Prague on Tuesday, President Miloš Zeman elevated 58 academics to the esteemed position of university professor. The notable absence of literary critic Martin C. Putna, upon whom the president refused to confer the title in person, caused uproar among Czech academics and even led some nominees to boycott the ceremony.