An amendment that passed its first Chamber of Deputies reading April 26 would tighten the requirements for foreigners seeking residency permits in the Czech Republic, ČTK reported. Under the new law, foreigners would have to pass a language test, and those marrying Czechs would have to wait two years for residency.

For the second year in a row, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM) was barred from officially holding its traditional May 1 rally in Letná Park. Instead, the Confederation of Political Prisoners (KPV) leased the space for celebrations denouncing totalitarian regimes. Before 1989, official May Day celebrations took place at Letná and were attended by communist leaders.

Dissatisfaction with European Union membership is on the rise in the Czech Republic, a CVVM poll released April 27 found. Last year at this time, 20 percent of those polled said they were dissatisfied with EU membership. This year, that figure increased to 27 percent.

The flow in Czech rivers is 30 percent to 70 percent below normal, and soil moisture is dramatically decreasing thanks to recent warm, dry weather, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute said April 27. If the situation worsens, it could reach drought level. This past January was the warmest in 45 years, the institute said.