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A new survey published by the European Commission’s Eurobarometer on Monday suggests that Czechs and Slovaks are amongst Europe’s biggest consumers of soda beverages. In the survey, 31 percent of Czechs said they often consumed lemonades or colas, compared to an EU average of only 19 percent. Bulgaria tops the list with 40 percent. The survey also found that Czechs have more daily meals than other nations in the EU, consuming on average seven meals per day as opposed to the EU average of about five meals a day.

Energy supplier RWE announced on Monday that its gas prices in the Czech Republic were going to increase in the spring. In January 2010, the company expanded its services in the country to include electricity. To date, electricity from RWE is only available for companies, but the energy and gas supplier plans to soon offer it to households as well. According to the company’s CEO, RWE is planning to double its share of the Czech electricity market over the next few years. RWE is one of the biggest energy companies in Europe and the main supplier of gas to Czech households.

Head of the Civic Democrats and former prime minister Mirek Topolánek was officially divorced from his ex-wife Pavla Patáková by a Prague court on Monday. The two former spouses came to a mutual divorce agreement. Mr. Topolánek told journalists that the divorce had taken place in a civil and dignified manner and that the two were able to agree on everything from property to custody questions. The couple has three children; the youngest son is seven years old. Mr. Topolánek announced his divorce last year before Christmas. He had been living with his new partner, the deputy chairwoman of the Chamber of Deputies Lucie Talmanová, since 2007.

Most Czechs support a court ban on the far-right Workers’ Party according to a poll released by the SANEP agency on Sunday. The Supreme Administrative Court decided to dissolve the party on Wednesday citing its racist, xenophobic and anti-gay stances and Nazi links. The poll showed almost 75 percent of respondents in favour of the court ruling. Around four-fifths of those surveyed characterised the party as extremist and propagating Nazism with 69 percent saying it was a threat to democracy. Just over 14,000 people were questioned for the survey.

Leaders of the Workers’ Party said on Saturday that they will fight upcoming general elections under the banner Workers’ Party of Social Justice (DSSS). Leader Tomáš Vanas said he identified a wave of support after the dissolution decision and that could be demonstrated in elections. The court decision was the first time a party has been dissolved on political not financial grounds since the creation of the Czech Republic in 1993.