Czech neo-nationalist Ladislav Bátora announced his resignation from the Education Ministry in October, after considerable public pressure and threats from the TOP 09 party it would leave the governing coalition unless the civil servant was removed from office. Nevertheless, MfD reports Bátora remained employed by the ministry under a new position through 2011, when it was abolished — making him eligible for a redundancy payment, which came to Kč 250,000.

At the launch of his latest book, European Integration without Illusions, noted euroskeptic Czech President Václav Klaus gave an interview in which he said EU fiscal integration will suppress freedom and democracy much as communism did. Meanwhile, Klaus said Angeal Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy have “seized” power because EU institutions are “simply toothless” and unable to tackle the debt crisis.

The Sokolov Festival of Political Song’s annual Internet poll allows Czechs to select politicians they deem to be most, corrupt, elitist and abusive of power. The two other categories are ‘Highflyer of the Year’ and ‘Pigsty of the Year,’ which went to Radek John, chairman of the scandal-ridden Public Affairs (VV) party, and the widely opposed ODS-ČSSD marriage of convenience at Prague City Hall, respectively.

Ladislav Bátora, who shot to fame and infamy for his offensive remarks about TOP 09 leader and Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg that sparked a government crisis, announced on Friday he was stepping down from his top post in the Ministry of Education. Bátora said he could no longer keep his word not to intervene in public life and hinted at joining a new right-wing party.