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The lower house on Wednesday passed an amendment to the law that will prevent the closure of outdoor nurseries known as forest kindergartens. According to the new legislation, the alternative nurseries can be granted an exemption from the strict hygiene norms that apply to traditional preschool facilities. The so-called Children Groups Act was passed through the lower house in November to provide a legal framework for child-care alternatives, which appeared as a result of a lack of places in regular kindergartens.

Two of President Miloš Zeman’s closest associates at his Prague Castle office are in line for ambassadorial posts, Hospodářské noviny reported on Wednesday. Mr. Zeman’s head of protocol, Jindřich Forejt, looks set to receive a long-mooted appointment as Czech ambassador to the Vatican, the newspaper said. However, the move is not expected to occur until late 2017, shortly before the president’s term ends. His foreign policy advisor, Hynek Kmoníček, is expected to become the country’s ambassador to Washington in around a year’s time. Hospodářské noviny said the planned departure of two key members of Mr. Zeman’s staff suggested he may not seek a second term.

Coalition partners the Christian Democrats say will not support President Miloš Zeman’s visit to Moscow next month if he attends a military parade in the city. Party leader Pavel Bělobrádek said if such an event were included on the official itinerary of festivities linked to the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII then Christian Democrat ministers would vote against the president’s trip at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Mr. Zeman’s spokesman said it was not yet clear whether the head of state would be attending a military parade. TOP 09’s Miroslav Kalousek had earlier tried unsuccessfully to have the matter included on the agenda of a lower house session.

Guilty verdicts have been delivered in a corruption trial linked to former health minister and regional governor David Rath. Nine people were found guilty by a court in Prague on Tuesday. Among them were Kateřina Kottová and her husband Petr Kott, who both got jail terms of 7.5 years, while they forfeited almost CZK 30 million found in cash at their home. Ivana Salačová, a businesswoman who turned state’s evidence, received a suspended sentence. The group had been on trial for a year and a half for corruption linked to a contract to renovate a chateau and procurements for a public hospital. Mr. Rath and one other defendant are being tried separately.