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The results of a new survey conducted by the CVVM agency show that 74 percent of people trust President Vaclav Klaus, while only 28 percent of those polled expressed trust in the government of acting Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek. The CVVM poll also indicates that people are dissatisfied with the current political situation of the Czech Republic—only 17 percent of respondents said that they are satisfied with the political scene since the June elections. As a result, the lower and upper houses of parliament registered their lowest ratings in the past year. CVVM conducted the survey during the first week of October, before the Senate elections.

A new judicial complex has opened in Prague 10. The country's newest and largest complex of judicial buildings was inaugurated on Monday morning, after the completion of renovation work to three historic buildings at Na Micankach. The construction cost the Ministry of Justice more than 2.5 billion crowns (over $112 million US), and the buildings will be home to more than 40 percent of Prague's judicial branches. The complex houses 98 courtrooms, 38 interview rooms, 30 holding cells, and is connected by underground hallways. Ombudsman and former justice minister Otakar Motejl was on hand to open the complex.

The Civic Democrats will most probably gain a second chance to form a new government. President Vaclav Klaus will ask the party that won most votes in the municipal and Senate elections to decide who should be entrusted with the task, the president's secretary Ladislav Jakl said on Sunday. The first attempt at forming a new government since the June elections ended in deadlock failed as the minority government of Civic Democrat leader Mirek Topolanek was unable to gain a vote of confidence in Parliament.

In a Czech TV discussion programme with the chairmen of all five parliamentary parties, Mr Topolanek said he favoured a caretaker government that would lead the country into early elections - preferably in May or June. Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek opposed the idea of early polls and said a grand coalition between his party and the Civic Democrats is the most stable way out of deadlock.

Twenty-two personalities have been awarded with state honours and medals for bravery. The state distinctions were presented by President Vaclav Klaus at a traditional ceremony at Prague Castle, which is held every year on October 28 - the anniversary of the foundation of an independent Czechoslovak state in 1918. The Order of the White Lion, the country's highest state honour, was given to WWII veterans Antonin Spacek and Josef Bryks, who died in 1956 and was given the distinction in memoriam.

Among the others who received state distinctions were cross-country skier Katerina Neumannova, Chairwoman of the Confederation of Political Prisoners Nadezda Kavalirova, football legend Josef Masopust, and actress Iva Janzurova.