News

The Czech Republic suffered a 2:1 away defeat to Poland in a qualifying match for the 2010 World Cup to be held in South Africa. The result is a blow to the team’s qualifying hopes following on from a poor showing at the Euro 2008 competition and the departure of head coach Karel Brückner. Poland scored the first goal in the 27th minute, and followed with a second goal in the 57th minute. The Czech Republic managed to slightly recover after a late substitution, with player Mark Fenin scoring a goal in the 87th minute. The Czech team’s performance was almost universally derided as inadequate by commentators. The team will now face Slovenia on Wednesday. Czech goalkeeper Petr Čech has been ruled out of that match with a groin injury.

Hotelier Bohumír Ďuričko, who is accused of killing the son of former Jiří Paroubek advisor Václav Kočka jr. has been remanded in custody by police as he faces trial for murder. Mr Kočka was shot on Thursday at a location in which the Social Democrat leader Jiří Paroubek had just attended an event to launch a new book. According to the authorities, the decision not to grant Mr Ďuričko bail was taken on the grounds of a genuine fear that the accused man may seek to escape the country and also seek to influence witnesses in the trial. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

Senior Social Democrat MP Michal Hašek has stated that should a planned post-election vote of no confidence in the current coalition government succeed, his party would expect a caretaker government through its impending EU chairmanship. The comments were made on the Czech television station Prima on Sunday morning. The Social Democrats are largely convinced that upcoming gains in local elections will give them an effective mandate to bring down the current coalition government.

Farmers in the Czech Republic have called off a planned nationwide blockade of roads after reaching an agreement with the Prime Minister over financial subsidies to the industry. The breakthrough came after a meeting on Saturday between representatives of the Agrarian Chamber and the government. During the meeting, Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek offered that the government would make up for a planned four billion crown shortfall in the Agriculture Ministry’s budget. The original protest action was called after the Agrarian Chamber sought an additional 2.8 billion crowns in direct payments, something which the government initially refused. The Agrarian Chamber argued that these subsidies, which are at 90% of levels in surrounding countries, were essential to the survival of farming in the Czech Republic. Monday’s planned protest, would have seen farming vehicles coming to a halt on roads (though not motorways) across the country.