Czech Republic

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (BosNewsLife)--  Czechs have voted in early parliamentary elections, punishing the center-right government following massive corruption and spying scandals. The Communists are expected to play a key role in national politics, for the first time since the collapse of Communism in 1989.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife PRAGUE/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Pope Benedict XVI began a three day visit to the Czech Republic Saturday, September 26, with a call for the nation to rediscover its Christian roots. Forty years of communist rule in the country stifled religious activities and left the number of Catholics in decline and religious practice in general at historic lows.

Listen to BosNewsLife News report via Voice of America CzechoslovakiaBosNewsLifeRadio By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife PRAGUE/BRATISLAVA/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Czechs and Slovaks have begun observing the 20th anniversary of the break up of Czechoslovakia into two independent states, amid concerns over economic differences.

Listen to a BosNewsLife shorter version via Vatican Radio:  By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST/PRAGUE (BosNewsLife)-- Left-leaning former Czech Prime Minister Milos Zeman has won his country's first direct presidential elections with about 55 percent of the vote. The international community was closely watching the voting as it will impact the Czech Republic's future relations with the European Union.

By BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest PRAGUE/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Catholic Christians have been mourning Archbishop Karel Otcenasek, who became a symbol of church resistance against atheist, Communist rule.

Listen to the BosNewsLife News story via Vatican Radio By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife PRAGUE/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Authorities in the Czech Republic have detained two men for their alleged involvement in a deadly wave of alcohol poisoning that killed at least 19 people and injured 24 others.  

Listen to the shorter BosNewsLife News report via Vatican Radio: By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife PRAGUE/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)--- The Czech Republic is facing uncertainty after the government headed by Prime Minister Jiří Rusnok resigned, paving the way for early elections. Tuesday's official announcement comes while churches were seeking compensation for properties that were nationalized by the previous Communist regime when devoted Christians and their leaders were persecuted.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST/PRAGUE (BosNewsLife)-- Voters in the Czech Republic are choosing a new government amid concerns about the country's economic crisis and widespread corruption. Some surveys indicate none of the main parties will have a majority in the lower house of parliament. For the first time in two decades the Communist Party is expected to play a role in the general elections.

Listen to this BosNewsLife News report via Vatican Radio: By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife PRAGUE/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)--Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas resigned on Monday following a massive espionage and bribery scandal involving his government.

Listen to BosNewsLife's News via Voice of America BosNewsLifeCzechUpdate By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (BosNewsLife)-- Polling stations have reopened in the Czech Republic for the country's first direct presidential elections since the breakup of Czechoslovakia in 1993, with a fully tattooed artist and two former prime ministers among the hopefuls.