The government has endorsed the composition and statutes of its new anti-corruption commission, to be headed by Karolína Peake (VV) and comprise seven ministers, including Defense Minister Alexandr Vondra (ODS) and Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek (TOP 09) — whom the VV party was calling upon to resign just months ago. A crucial test of Peake’s resolve to fight corruption will come in late August.

Last Monday’s papers were full of headlines declaring the end of the three-party coalition government was nigh. The conflict was indeed bitter, but the “gruesome end” of which TOP 09’s leader Karel Schwarzenberg spoke didn’t occur. Intensive negotiations between ODS and VV leaders took place from Monday through Thursday — without the participation of TOP 09 — alongside separate talks between PM Petr Nečas (ODS) and VV leaders. The result was an amendment to the coalition agreement, signed by the party leaders on June 30.

The leaders of the three ruling coalition parties failed to agree to a new coalition agreement after four hours of talks on Sunday. Public Affairs (VV), the smallest of the three, still says it will leave the coalition if amendments to the coalition agreement are not endorsed by June 30. Center-right TOP 09 says the current coalition agreement is still valid and will not negotiate any personnel changes.

Public Affairs (VV) first deputy chairwoman Karolína Peake says another naughty calendar featuring half-naked female MPs might be called for to boost lagging party support before the next elections if the Czech public cannot be convinced of the party's achievements. With VV still threatening to walk out of the government — and perhaps spark early elections — a 2012 calendar could be a real prospect.