Czech Republic

Czechs seeking to buy an average sized apartment of 70 square metres faced paying over 11 times their annual salary in 2019, more than their peers in any other European country. That's a ranking they enjoyed for a fourth straight year. In the capital Prague, the average price per square meter rose to €3,395 last year, far above regional peers such as Budapest and Bratislava.

Prague has been no stranger to invasions down the ages. In recent years, a multinational force has taken over the centre of the city, albeit arriving on budget airlines rather than tanks and brandishing cash, not guns.

Since the Czech government closed the borders on March 12, the invasion has been halted in its tracks.

Flood of tourists slows to a trickle

Czech Republic: economy slows down as lockdown eases

The Czech Republic further eased its lockdown and travel restrictions this week, as the coronavirus pandemic weakened. It has dropped the obligatory wearing of facemasks, allowed pubs, restaurants, hotels and museums to fully open and has partially opened borders, rail links and airports.

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But are political and economic pressures pushing the government to rush its bid to exit the coronavirus crisis?

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Coronavirus: Live Updates

Tight-Lipped Balkan Governments Scramble to Defend Against COVID-19

The Pandemic Stress Test

In Central Europe, Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia have declared states of emergency and Poland has declared a "state of epidemic threat".

About 15,000 people, according to police, have again protested against the Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš in central Prague. A week ago, 50,000 people participated in another demonstration, BTA quoted global agencies as saying.

The protest movement is being organized by the Million Moments for Democracy civic group, which is seeking the resignation of the prime minister. 

More than 200,000 Czechs have gathered in Prague to demand the resignation of billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, France Press office reported.

The Czech prime minister is off the hook for alleged fraud — for now.

For four years, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has faced allegations that he illegally used EU subsidies to build a conference centre near Prague known as the Stork's Nest.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Sept. 3 encouraged Turkish companies to increase their investment in Czechia, formerly called the Czech Republic, especially in the construction sector.