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The Czech government has found itself is in an ever deepening crisis, and it is unclear whether it will be able to right its course or whether the coalition will fall, paving the way for early elections. Over the last 24 hours, coalition negations yielded few results, while new evidence emerged suggesting that the crisis may have been the result of sabotage by rebel MPs as well as members of the coalition leading Civic Democrats.

Health minister Leoš Heger has announced that within a broad reform of the health system he wants to change the rules for fertility treatment. The minister has proposed curtailing the practice of multiple-embryo transfers in assisted pregnancies – in favour of single-embryo transfers on the grounds that it is the most inexpensive IVF method and least likely to result in high-risk multiple births.

The on-going crisis within the Czech government has come to a point where a mere meeting of coalition leaders might be a significant step ahead. After President Václav Klaus refused to accept the proposed changes to the cabinet until he was told exactly how things would proceed, Prime Minister Petr Nečas gave way and convened an informal meeting of Civic Democrat, TOP 09 and Public Affairs leaders for Wednesday night that should come up with ways of breaking the deadlock within the coalition. Radio Prague spoke to commentator Eric Best, and asked

An intriguing Czech exhibition is on its way to Iraq in the coming weeks, dedicated to the exploits of the Czech Republic’s most famous explorers. Jiří Hanzelka and Miroslav Zikmund travelled through Iraq in 1960 as part of their voyage to the Middle East and Asia, one of several such adventures in their trademark Tatra car. On Friday Miroslav Zikmund and a delegation of visiting Iraqi politicians visited the exhibition at the Czech Senate.

The three parties of the Czech coalition government went back to the negotiating table on Monday to try to mend the rifts that have emerged in the wake of a crippling corruption scandal involving the junior coalition party Public Affairs. The meeting produced a verbal pledge to try to save the coalition in its present form, but no tangible progress, indicating just how difficult it may be to overcome the present crisis.

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

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.

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.

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