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Sobotka: Zeman would need serious reason to refuse to appoint ministers

The likely next Czech prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka says President Miloš Zeman would have to have a serious reason for refusing to appoint ministers in the nascent cabinet. Speaking on Tuesday, the Social Democrats’ chairman told reporters that the head of state could not reject nominees on the basis of political argumentation. There has been media speculation that Mr. Zeman could refuse to appoint Lubomír Zaorálek or Jiří Dientsbier of the Social Democrats, who are regarded as his opponents.

Three parties continue coalition talks

The Social Democrats, ANO and the Christian Democrats are continuing talks on the formation of a coalition government. The three parties’ leaders are due to discuss the composition of the cabinet and chairmanships of lower house committees, while negotiating teams will attempt to agree on a programme for government. The Social Democrats’ Bohuslav Sobotka says he wants to have a coalition agreement on the table by the middle of December. His party finished first in elections in October with 20.45 percent of the vote, ahead of ANO with 18.85 percent.

Gazdík and Okamura to contest final deputy speaker’s post in Chamber on Wednesday

Petr Gazdík of TOP 09 and Tomio Okamura of Dawn will face each other for the fourth and final deputy speaker’s position in the Chamber of Deputies in a vote on Wednesday. Other candidates for the post have dropped out, the chairman of the lower house’s electoral commission told journalists on Tuesday. Mr. Okamura failed to win the position when he ran for it last week. Mr. Gazdík replaces TOP 09’s Miroslav Kalousek, who also proved unsuccessful in the earlier vote.

Czech police force has two presidents after reinstatement of Lessy

Petr Lessy has been reinstated as president of the Czech police force – despite the fact that the post is still occupied by the man who replaced him, Martin Červíček. Mr. Lessy was returned to the position by the minister of the interior, Martin Pecina, after a Prague court ruled that criminal charges of abuse of office and slander taken against him were unfounded. Mr. Lessy will remain on holiday until the situation is resolved. Mr. Pecina said he hoped Mr. Červíček would act on earlier intimations that he would stand down of Mr. Lessy returned.

Czech students do better in international comparison but are still average

The Czech Republic has done better in an international comparison of attainment among school students than three years previously. In the 2012 Programme for International Student Assessment, which is organised by the OECD, Czech pupils fared better in mathematics, reading and science than they did in 2009. However, the Czech Republic still only showed average results among the 65 countries surveyed. Indeed Czech 15-year-olds were only above average in scientific literacy.

Survey: Third of Czech believe EU has brought more bad than good

One-third of Czechs believe that joining the European Union brought more disadvantages than advantages, suggests an international opinion poll conducted by the PASOS agency. One in five Czechs hold the opposing view, the survey indicates. People in the Czech Republic have a less positive view of EU membership than those in Poland, Latvia and Bulgaria, the other states where the research was carried out. The four were among 10 countries, predominantly from the former Eastern Bloc, that joined the EU in 2004.

Hussites and Evangelicals agree to joint preparation of Hus anniversary events in 2015

The Czechoslovak Hussite Church and the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren on Tuesday signed an agreement to jointly prepare events marking the 600th anniversary of the death of Jan Hus in two years’ time. One of the main events in 2015 will be held on Prague’s Old Town Square, which is home to a statue of the church reformer burned at the stake in 1415. Conferences, exhibitions and other events will also take place.

Vrba confirmed as new national soccer manager

The Czech Football Association has confirmed Pavel Vrba as manager of the national team. Vrba, who has helmed club Viktoria Plzeň to considerable success, will take over on January 1 under a four-year contract with a two-year option. The 49-year-old’s first game in charge of the Czech Republic will be a friendly against Norway in early March. Vrba’s predecessor Michal Bílek failed to lead the country to next year’s World Cup and was criticised for a dull playing style.

World Scrabble Championships get underway in Prague

More than 200 Scrabble players from over 135 countries have gathered at a Prague hotel for the word game’s World Championships. The six-day event, which is held in English, has taken place every two years since 1991. The Czech Republic is being represented by Tomáš Rodr and Radana Williamsová.

Weather

It should be fair with a daytime high of up to 5 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, giving way to rain and snow and lower temperatures in the latter part of the week.