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Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek has said he would like to see Health Minister David Rath head the Social Democrats' list of Prague candidates in national elections next June. The prime minister made the statement on Thursday, stressing that the Social Democrats needed a strong leader in Prague to face off against opposition Civic Democrat chairman Mirek Topolanek. The Social Democrats have been seeking for an appropriate candidate for some time. Previously, the prime minister pushed for the deputy prime minister for the economy, Martin Jahn, to top the list, but Mr Jahn turned his offer down. Former Czech EU Commissioner Pavel Telicka was also considered, but he also refused.

So far, the Health Minister David Rath has viewed the offer favourably, saying he was likely "to accept".

Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek has told journalists that the abolition of an existing screening law', as proposed Wednesday by the Communist Party, can wait. The prime minister suggested the proposal could be put on the backburner for one or two years, stressing he would not risk the disintegration of the coalition government over the issue. On Wednesday Mr Paroubek expressed support for abolishing the screening law which bans former agents or police officers in former Czechoslovakia's communist regime from holding civil service posts. Mr Paroubek said the legislation had fulfilled its role and was no longer necessary. But, his statement angered both coalition parties, which consider the abolishing of the law unacceptable.

The body of a 25-year-old Czech student has reportedly been found on Japan's Mount Fuji. The climber went missing earlier this week, apparently slipping during his descent from the 3,776-meter summit. Officials believe the Czech climber survived his initial fall but could not make it through freezing conditions on the mountain at night.

Late Thursday the Chamber of Deputies passed the draft state budget for 2006 to go to a final reading. The vote is scheduled for December 2nd. The budget for next year plans for a deficit of 74.4 billion crowns (the equivalent of roughly 3 billion US dollars), with around 885 billion crowns in revenues and 959 billion in expenditures. The December vote will be based on the resolution of the Chamber of Deputies budget committee, which discussed financial transfers last week. The committee reviewed almost 1,200 modifications valued at roughly seven billion crowns, submitted by individual committees, deputies, and the public.