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Current AffairsPM says he wants to lead Social Democrats into election battle

After just a few weeks in office, Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek has made a bid to lead the ailing Social Democrats to the 2006 general elections. He made his ambition public on the day that opinion polls showed his popularity rating had soared by 20 percent since taking office.  More

Talking PointBattling the "paternal" relationship between doctors and their patients

Czechs have always been envied for their health care system. Unlike in Britain, the United States, or neighbouring Germany, for example, in the Czech Republic, only a very small percentage of the population have no health insurance. Czechs have a sore throat; they go the doctor and get some tablets, they have a slight temperature and get to stay home on sick leave for a week - all of this covered by insurance, of course.  More

NewsDentists say patients should contribute more towards cost of treatment

Current AffairsPM Paroubek keeps door open on Communist cooperation

After weeks of hot debate and political turmoil the Czech Republic is finally settling down with its new government - or rather new-old government, as it differs only very little from the previous one. The coalition partners remain the same, only a handful of ministers have been replaced. The new Prime Minister, the former minister for local development, Jiri Paroubek, declares that the new team does not plan any big changes. The government still has to survive a vote of confidence in parliament next week, and there are still several dissidents within the ruling Social Democratic party whose votes seem less than secure. Martin Mikule met the Prime Minister and asked him whether he saw this as a potential danger.  More

Business NewsBusiness briefs

Deputies adopt legislation to soften ban on 'Svarc system', speed up commercial registrations, allow 'squeeze out' option for majority shareholders; World Bank says creditors in Czech Republic least likely in European Union to recover funds from bankrupt countries; Health Minister to ask for partial bail-out of VZP; $230m positive foreign trade balance recorded for March. More

NewsSocial Democrats slipped further in public opinion polls during appointment of new Prime Minister - CVVM