Daily news summary
Social Democrats dismiss written deal on coalition support with Communists
The Social Democrats say they have no intention of a written agreement with the Communist Party under which the latter would pledge support for a possible coalition of ANO and the Social Democrats. Martin Netolický, deputy chair of the Social Democrats, expressed their position on a TV debate show on Sunday. He said it would be up to ANO to deal with the Communists as the main party in the potential government.
Mr. Netolický also said it was not the Communists’ place to assess the names his party was putting forward for the cabinet as the party would not bear responsibility for governing the country.
Talks are ongoing about an ANO-Social Democrats minority government supported on key votes in the lower house by the Communists. This would give the latter a share of power for the first time since 1989.
Novinky: State attorney questions police’s findings in Babiš case
State attorney Jaroslav Šaroch has questioned the police’s findings in the case of acting prime minister Andrej Babiš, the news site Novinky.cz reported on Sunday. Last week Mr. Šaroch rejected a petition from Mr. Babiš and six others facing fraud charges, who argued that the case against them was unfounded.
While the state attorney rejected their claim, he also wrote that the police’s conclusions were “not final and need not be completely credible”, Novinky.cz wrote, quoting Mr. Šaroch’s statement.
ANO leader Babiš is one of a number of people accused of abusing around CZK 50 million in European Union subsidies in connection with the Stork’s Nest complex near Prague. The acting PM denies any wrongdoing and describes the charges as fabricated.
App-accessed electric cars set for central Prague
Tiny electric cars will soon become available to hire in central Prague using a mobile phone application, the news site Echo24 reported. The company Re.volt will put the Chinese made, two-person vehicles into trial operation in the Prague 1 and Prague 2 districts from the start of June.
Users will be charged by the minute for the use of the yellow cars from manufacturer Si-an. Initially 20 of them will be available.
Mikolas Josef achieves best Czech placing in Eurovision with sixth
The Czech Republic’s Mikolas Josef came sixth in Saturday’s final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon, which was won by Netta of Israel. Josef, who performed the song Lie to Me, was only the second Czech singer to reach the final of the Eurovision and achieved the highest ever placing for a Czech artist.
The 22-year-old had required medical treatment after hurting his spine in a fall during rehearsals for the Eurovision and received loud applause after performing a somersault in the final.
Forecasters predict average month for time of year
Following a period of unusually warm weather for the time of year, forecasters are predicting a return to normal. According to a regular four-week forecast issued by the Czech Hydro-Meteorological Institute, both temperatures and precipitation should be average for the time of year between now and mid-June.
The warmest week in the coming month should be the second week of June, the meteorologists say.
Kvitová wins Madrid Open for second title in week
Petra Kvitová won the Madrid Open on Saturday evening, beating Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands 7-6 4-6 6-3 in an encounter lasting almost three hours. The two-time Wimbledon winner, who had knocked compatriot Karolína Plíšková out in the semi-finals, became the first woman to win the tournament three times.
Kvitová’s triumph in Spain came a week after she won the Prague Open and brings her WTA titles tally to four this season and 24 overall.
Weather forecast
Monday should be bright in the Czech Republic, with temperatures of up to 21 degrees Celsius. Rain and temperatures in the high teens are forecast from Tuesday until the end of the week.
