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During its session on Monday, the Czech government decided to raise the minimum monthly wage by 500 Czech crowns to 6,200 crowns as of January next year. The minimum wage was introduced in 1991 when it was set at 2,000 Czech crowns. In the Czech Republic it is less than 40 per cent of the average wage. Whilst some economists have warned that a higher minimum wage could lower labour productivity and increase unemployment, trade unions have welcomed the rise, arguing that it would force employers to utilise their workforce more efficiently.

Former Prime Minister Milos Zeman has been speaking to reporters after emerging as the clear winner of the so-called “party referendum”, organised by the senior coalition Social Democrats to choose a presidential candidate. The poll suggested that Mr Zeman - seen as representing the party's old guard - was the most popular candidate among Social Democrat supporters. This has been an embarrassment to the party leadership, who hoped the poll would endorse their preferred candidate, the country's ombudsman Otakar Motejl. Mr Zeman repeated on Sunday that he would only stand in the second round of the presidential election, posing more problems for the Social Democrats, who want to field a candidate in the first round.

Austrian protestors staged a brief blockade of a border crossing on Saturday in protest at the Czech Republic's Temelin nuclear power plant. A group of around 20 anti-nuclear activists blocked the Gmund border crossing for around 30 minutes before dispersing. There were no arrests. The blockade was organised by Austria's Stop Temelin group, who said they wanted the Austrian government to do more to oppose the use of nuclear power in neighbouring countries. There has been tension between Austria and the Czech Republic over Temelin, although relations have improved considerably in recent months.

The country's ombudsman Otakar Motejl has said he still wants to stand as a candidate for the senior coalition Social Democrats in the upcoming presidential elections, despite a so-called “party referendum” suggesting that former Prime Minister Milos Zeman is far more popular among both party members and the public. The Social Democrat leadership has until December 7th to choose a candidate for president. It was hoped the “party referendum” would endorse Mr Motejl as the most popular choice, and marginalise Mr Zeman, who is seen as representing the old guard. However Mr Zeman emerged as the clear winner of the poll, and Mr Motejl came third.