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Over the next three days, more than 140 high schools in the Czech Republic are taking part in a mock election, aimed at boosting interest among students on the cusp of voting age, in the political process although they haven’t earned the right to vote yet. Students between 15 to just under 18 are taking part, but paradoxically, some of the country’s politicians, primarily Social Democrats ahead of the real national election in May, have stepped up the pressure for schools to drop out. The reason? What they charge is a danger of politicisation of

A month before the national election, filmmaker Petr Zelenka together with the popular actors Martha Issová and Jiří Mádl, have caused an unprecedented stir with the release of a viral video called Přemluv bábu - Persuade Granny. The clip takes its cue from Sarah Silverman’s The Great Schlep in 2008, which humorously urged Jewish voters to get their grandparents to vote for Barack Obama. But some viewers here have taken offence to the Czech version, criticising it, if not for its message, for how the elderly are portrayed.

Czechs have been living in the state of permanent political campaigning ever since the fall of the government last March. Early elections were supposed to be held in October, but in the end we have had wait for the regular term next month. All this time, political parties have been coming up with new ideas, slogans and counter-slogans to catch people’s attention.

Foreigners living outside the Czech Republic had their last chance on Sunday to register to vote in the elections to the lower house of parliament on May 28 and 29. Czechs abroad have two possibilities to vote. The first is to be included on the voters’ list at a specific consulate or embassy abroad. The second is to get a voter’s pass which allows voting at any location abroad and in the Czech Republic. This is recommended for those on short trips with a longer time period allowed for registration. Last time in 2006 around 5,000 took advantage of being included on the voters’ lists abroad. Foreign votes are channelled into one Czech region chosen by ballot. This time round it will be the South Bohemian region.

There are 27 Czech political parties running in May’s general elections. Only few of them have a realistic prospect of entering the lower house of Parliament, but they all drew numbers on Thursday to put on their ballots. With the elections approaching, Czech expats around the world who want to cast their vote only have until this Saturday to register.

The leaders of the two strongest political parties in the Czech Republic, Jiří Paroubek and Petr Nečas, faced off in a popular TV debate programme on Sunday, discussing how they would govern and with whom if they head the next ruling coalition following the election. Social Democrat Jiří Paroubek outlined conditions central for his party to take part in any ruling coalition, namely the aim to strike down healthcare fees introduced by the previous government, as well as to reintroduce progressive taxation.

Mr Nečas, who recently took over as his party’s election leader, outlined priorities for the right-of-centre Civic Democrats – the top of which include lowering the country’s debt, fighting against corruption, and focusing on NATO and the EU, he said. During the debate, both leaders traded barbs over whose party had negatively impacted the country.

The Social Democratic Party, leading in the polls ahead of May’s national election, has set conditions for potential coalition partners, a number of them appearing to rule out the country’s right-wing parties. On Friday, Social Democrat chairman Jiří Paroubek said that his party would only be willing to enter a government that would abolish health care fees introduced by the former cabinet and would be willing to reintroduce progressive taxation instead of a flat tax rate. The conditions appear to rule out parties such as traditional rivals the Civic Democrats or the newest right-of-centre party TOP 09. In recent months it has been speculated that the Social and Civic Democrats could from a grand coalition in order to agree on reforming spending and taxes to lower the budget deficit. It is unclear how likely that scenario is now. The Civic Democrats trail the Social Democrats - a distant second place in most polls - although in recent weeks the right-of-centre party has narrowed the gap somewhat.

Civic Democratic Party vice-chairman Petr Nečas is to lead the party to May’s general elections, after the head of the party, Mírek Topolánek, resigned as election leader on Thursday. Mr. Topolánek gave in to pressure from the party leadership to take a back-seat following a scandal over unfortunate remarks he made relating to Jews and gays. He remains head of the party, although he has been urged to consider resigning from that post as well. Petr Nečas said he was prepared to work hard to make sure that the Civic Democrats were in “high gear” throughout the election campaign. Regarding any ambition to succeed Mr Topolánek as party leader, he said only that he would at present be concentrating fully on the upcoming elections. Petr Nečas was the minister of labour and social affairs under the previous government, which was led by the Civic Democratic Party. Parliamentary elections are to take place on May 28-29.

In a desperate attempt to boost their chances in the upcoming elections, the centre-right Civic Democrats on Thursday replaced their election leader. In a heated five hour debate the party leadership forced former prime minister and party chair Mirek Topolánek to resign from the position, replacing him with deputy-chairman Petr Nečas. Mr Topolánek, whose awkward comments on gays and Jews last weekend triggered the change-of-guard, remains party chairman.

The Civic Democrats’ Mirek Topolánek has bowed to pressure from within his own party and agreed to step down as election leader two months before the Czechs go to the polls. The job has now been filled by deputy chairman Petr Nečas. More importantly, Mr Topolánek declined to give up his post of party leader - creating an unusual precedent. Many observers suggest that the compromise decision will only increase the party’s current woes and could help lead the Civic Democrats to defeat against their closest rivals in May.