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The leadership of the Social Democrats and Christian Democrats agreed this Wednesday to cooperate in certain areas ahead of early elections this October. Under Mirek Topolanek’s government which fell in March, the Social Democrats were in opposition in the lower house, while the Christian Democrats formed part of the government coalition. This Wednesday, the parties’ leadership agreed to work together in the fields of gambling regulation, healthcare fees and the merger of this country’s health insurers. After the meeting, head of the Social Democrats Jiří Paroubek said he welcomed changes in the Christian Democrats’ leadership which were brought about at the party congress last month. Mr Paroubek added that the Social Democrats were discussing a ‘strategic partnership’ with the Christian Democrats even after this October’s general elections.

In more business news, the number of foreign workers in the Czech Republic was down in May for the fifth month running, according to figures released by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs on Wednesday. The number of foreigners working legally in the Czech Republic was down by over 4000 to nearly 252,100 in May. This is a drop of almost 16,000 compared to the same time last year. The largest group of foreigners working in the Czech Republic is from neighbouring Slovakia, the data says, while Ukrainians and Poles come second and third respectively. So far this year, some 1664 individuals have put themselves forward for the Czech government’s voluntary repatriation scheme, which provides laid-off foreign workers with a free plane ticket home.

The Senate passed a bill on Wednesday which obliges Czech lawyers to wear gowns when in the courtroom. The practice is already common in many other European countries, but under the previous legislation here only judges, lay judges and state attorneys wore special gowns when in a Czech court. The law must still be signed by Czech President Václav Klaus before it comes into effect. If signed, it will take effect this September. Details are yet to be finalized by the Czech Bar Association, but it is thought that lawyers’ gowns will be black with a blue rim. According to a spokesperson for the association, lawyers will have to cover the cost of the gowns themselves.

The lower house of the Czech Parliament has approved plans for the country’s foreign missions in 2010. The document, which was approved by 122 of the 173 deputies present, now has to pass through the country’s Senate. According to the plan, some 550 Czech soldiers will be deployed in Kosovo in 2010, while 535 will be sent to serve in Afghanistan. The bill for the Czech Republic’s foreign missions next year is thought to amount to around 3 billion crowns (156 million USD). According to Defence Minister Martin Barták, the proposals were the result of a number of compromises. Only the Communist Party and four Social Democrat deputies voted against the proposals.