On November 21 2012, the head of the Czech Museum of Agriculture was fired for selling a book praising communist-era agriculture. In a separate ceremony, former WWII resistance fighters were publicly thanked and paid 15.2 million Czech crowns (Kč.) by the country as a gesture of reward for their bravery. Yet, at the same time, regional public elections were held, with the result that the communists garnered up to 20% of the vote in some regions, which led to the appointment of a communist governor in one region and the communists assuming leadership positions in the regional coalition governments. Most political analysts attributed the communists strong showing to a protest vote against the policies of the ruling conservative coalition. The