Current Affairs | All stories

On Tuesday, the Social Democrat deputy leader Michal Hašek was asked in a live broadcast whether a secret meeting had taken place between himself, several other Social Democrats and President Zeman (ahead of an attempt to oust party leader Bohuslav Sobotka). Mr Hašek replied that no such meeting took place. But now he has admitted the truth: that he lied.

The Czech Republic is often criticized for failing to address the problems of its Romany minority and give the Roma equal access to education, work and housing. While the authorities frequently point out that addressing these problems is a long an uphill task, the mayor of Obrnice, a small town in north Bohemia, has just proved that it can be done. She has been awarded the Council of Europe’s DOSTA! prize for innovative work in combating anti-Romany sentiments and assisting Romany integration.

Though they had a poorer showing than expected, the Social Democrats came first in the weekend’s elections, prompting speculation they could form a government with ANO and the Christian Democrats. However, in the last couple of days the Social Democrats have been torn apart by dramatic infighting – and for now it is not entirely clear who can represent them in coalition talks.

The Social Democrats showed remarkable disunity at the weekend when – ahead of the coalition talks – 20 within the party called on leader Bohuslav Sobotka to resign. Some expressed shock, others support for the embattled chairman, but this much is clear: the party’s largely Pyrrhic victory deepened an already existing split in the party.

The Social Democrats have come first in the Czech general elections, with some 20.5 percent of the vote. That result, however, is far weaker than expected, and the party will find it extremely difficult to form a viable government. More than 40 percent of voters, meanwhile, have backed anti-establishment and populist parties.

People around the Czech Republic have begun casting their ballots in the sixth election to the Chamber of Deputies since the foundation of the state. The results should be quite clear a few hours after polls close at 2 PM on Saturday. However, it could be days or even weeks before the shape of the next Czech government emerges.

The leading Czech beer producer, Pilsner Urquell, has announced a slight increase in the prices of its bottled and canned beer on the domestic market. The Plzeň-based group says it will not raise the price of its world-famous brew sold in kegs and tanks, ostensibly to attract more people to pubs and restaurants. But experts say the move will do little to reverse the trend which has seen more and more Czechs having a beer at home rather than out on the town.

In the Czech Republic, mothers or fathers have the generous option of taking parental leave of up to three years to raise their child. In the overwhelming number of cases, the mother is the one to stay home (often putting a career on hold). Increasingly, though, fathers are also beginning to consider the option. I spoke to Lukáš Talpa of the non-profit Liga otevřených mužů which recently commissioned a poll surveying attitudes about parental leave. He began by asking whether the number of those taking paternity leave had grown.

Traditionally on Czechoslovak Independence Day, October 28, the Czech president hands out state honours to war veterans, human rights activists and distinguished personalities. Although this year’s list of recipients has not yet been officially released some names leaked to the press have already caused a stir.

A row over whether the Roman Catholic Church has the right to the return of buildings and land at Prague Castle has put the issue of church restitution back in the news. The debate has seen tempers fray – and, if a left-wing government is formed, could prefigure a roll-back on some aspects of the restitution law.