News

Opposition promises new efforts to instigate snap elections

The leader of the opposition Social Democrats, Bohuslav Sobotka, has promised his party will “not miss any opportunity” to instigate early general elections. Speaking at a May 1 rally in Vyškov, southern Moravia, Mr Sobotka said the government survived its latest crisis against the wishes of most Czechs, and suggested the regional and Senate elections in the autumn will be a “referendum” on the centre-right government.

Clashes between extremist groups leave five injured

Five people including three police officers were injured in clashes between far-right and far-left extremists in Prague on Tuesday. One man was arrested after attacking the police, a spokesman for the force said. The conflict occurred when marches staged by both groups to commemorate the International Workers’ Day passed each other under heavy police supervision; however, the activists threw bottles, stones and other objects at each other. One of the injured officers was taken hospital; the other people only suffered light injuries.

Hundreds join communist rally marking International Workers’ Day

Some 2,000 people on Tuesday came to a rally organized by the Communist party at Prague’s exhibition grounds marking the International Workers’ Day. Communist leaders addressed the crowd, calling for an end of the government’s reforms; the rally was also attended by one of the party’s pre-1990 leaders, former general secretary, Milouš Jakeš.

New education minister to be appointed on Wednesday

New Education Minister Petr Fiala will be appointed to his post by President Václav Klaus on Wednesday, a spokesman for the president said. PM Nečas nominated Petr Fiala, a former rector of Brno’s Masaryk University, a month after his predecessor stepped down over problems with securing EU funds. Mr Fiala, who is also an advisor to the prime minister, said he could not promise miracle but would try to stabilize the education sector. The opposition has welcomed Mr Fiala’s nomination but said the new minister will have to tackle severe problems facing the education system.

“Burning of Witches” festivals cause most fires since 2008

Monday’s “Burning of the Witches”, or Walpurgis Night festivals caused 178 fires across the country, a spokeswoman for the Czech fire brigades said. The fires caused damages worth around 6.2 million crowns. A homeless man died in Mělník, in northern Bohemia, on Monday after his shack caught fire but the accident was not linked to the festivities.

National Museum decides not to open mysterious chests

The National Museum has decided not to explore the contents of two wooden chests, donated to the museum over a hundred years ago by Czech scientist Bohuslav Jiruš who died in 1901, the museum said on its website on Tuesday.. In his testament, the botanist and pharmacologist said the chests should be opened 200 years after his death. The museum held an online poll to decide whether or not to open the chests; more than 3,000 people took part, 53 percent of which voted against the opening of the boxes.

Temperature records broken across country

Several temperature records for May 1 were broken across the Czech Republic on Tuesday. A weather station in Tábor, southern Bohemia, registered a temperature of 28.4 degrees Celsius, the highest in 66 years while in the east Bohemia city of Hradec Králové, meteorologists registered 30..6 degrees Celius, the highest temperature since 30.5 degrees Celsius, the highest since 1934.

Weather

The current spell of warm and sunny weather should continue until Thursday when overcast skies and rains showers are expected. Daytime highs in the next few days will drop from the current 28 to around 20 degrees Celsius.