Advertisement

Dec. 17, 2021 / 12:49 PM

Czech Republic swears in five-party coalition government

New Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (R), the leader of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), speaks at press conference after the first cabinet meeting at the Straka Academy on Friday. Photo by Martin Divisek/EPA-EFE

New Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (R), the leader of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), speaks at press conference after the first cabinet meeting at the Straka Academy on Friday. Photo by Martin Divisek/EPA-EFE

Dec. 17 (UPI) -- The Czech Republic's new five-party coalition government led by Petr Fiala was sworn in Friday after a 10-week hiatus following a general election.

The center-right government faces soaring inflation and energy costs, record deficit budgets, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advertisement

Analysts expect the coalition to be more pro-Western, engaged with the European Union, and active in a nuclear power agenda.

President Milos Zeman urged the new government to be useful while facing a potential crisis.

Zeman's ill health from contracting COVID-19 and prolonged hospital stay delayed the government's inauguration.

The cabinet was scheduled to consider extending a state of emergency instituted last month during its first meeting on Friday. The nation has had 35,000 deaths in a population of 10.7 million.

Fiala, 57, replaces billionaire and former oligarch Andrej Babis as the Czech Republic's 13th prime minister since its formation in 1993 after Czechoslovakia's dissolution.

Read More

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns

World News // 10 hours ago

Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns

April 25 (UPI) -- Haiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry turned in his resignation on Thursday to make room for a new government to approve a security force accepted by the United Nations.

Australian authorities charge 5 teens in connection with church stabbings

World News // 12 hours ago

Australian authorities charge 5 teens in connection with church stabbings

April 25 (UPI) -- Australian authorities have charged five juveniles in related terrorism activities and police continued to probe an April 15 stabbing in Wakeley.

Venice launches $5 entry fee for day-trippers

World News // 14 hours ago

Venice launches $5 entry fee for day-trippers

April 25 (UPI) -- Visitors to Italy looking to make a day trip to Venice will be charged a fee to enter the iconic city starting Thursday as part of a plan to address over-tourism.

Climate row kills Scotland's SNP-Scottish Greens coalition, SNP to rule without majority

World News // 15 hours ago

Climate row kills Scotland's SNP-Scottish Greens coalition, SNP to rule without majority

April 25 (UPI) -- Scotland's Scottish Nationalist Party-led coalition fell apart Thursday after a three year-long power-sharing agreement with the Scottish Greens imploded in a row over the scrapping of carbon emissions targets.

Chinese dissident denied asylum fights to stay in South Korea

World News // 17 hours ago

Chinese dissident denied asylum fights to stay in South Korea

JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, April 25 (UPI) -- A Chinese dissident who was imprisoned in his native country for more than two years fights to stay in South Korea after being denied asylum.

North Korea warns of forceful response if U.S. tightens sanctions monitoring

World News // 20 hours ago

North Korea warns of forceful response if U.S. tightens sanctions monitoring

SEOUL, April 25 (UPI) -- North Korea on Thursday condemned new efforts to monitor sanctions enforcement against it and warned the United States of an "upward readjustment of force" in response.

Russia vetoes U.N. resolution opposing space-based nuclear arms

World News // 1 day ago

Russia vetoes U.N. resolution opposing space-based nuclear arms

April 24 (UPI) -- Russia vetoed a U.S.- and Japan-sponsored U.N. resolution, opposing the deployment of nuclear weapons in space, during a Wednesday vote among the United Nations' 15-member security council.

After villages razed in Sudan, U.S. calls for immediate end to attacks in North Darfur

World News // 1 day ago

After villages razed in Sudan, U.S. calls for immediate end to attacks in North Darfur

April 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of State on Wednesday called for an immediate cessation of fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and breakaway Rapid Support Forces that endangers millions in Sudan.

U.N. calls for independent probe into reports of mass graves found at Gaza hospitals

World News // 1 day ago

U.N. calls for independent probe into reports of mass graves found at Gaza hospitals

April 24 (UPI) -- The United Nations is calling for an independent investigation into reports of mass graves found at two hospitals in Gaza that had been besieged by Israeli forces.

German MEP won't back out of elections after aide arrested for spying

World News // 1 day ago

German MEP won't back out of elections after aide arrested for spying

April 24 (UPI) -- Conservative German MEP Maximilian Krah said on Wednesday that he will not drop out of the European election race after one of his top aides was charged with spying for China.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement