Daily news summary
iDnes: Some lawmakers unhappy over campaign spending limits
The parliamentary election due to take place in October will be the first influenced by legislation passed last year curbing spending by political parties, news website iDnes reports. Under the new law, parties' campaign spending has a ceiling of 90 million crowns (in the past, the news site points out, spending higher than 100 million was not unusual). Some lawmakers, even among those who backed the bill, have reportedly now privately expressed misgivings; some interpret aspects of the law differently, clashing over whether the use of government-assigned vehicles for campaign purposes, for example, is a campaign expense. Campaign spending is overseen by a specific bureau overseeing the financing and economic activities of political parties and movements.
Social Democrats outline key campaign issues
The Social Democratic Party has presented key issues upon which it will run its campaign ahead of the elections this autumn. At its conference in Prague on Saturday, the party outlined comfortable living standards, an average monthly wage of 40,000 crowns, progressive taxation, quicker health care, and a so-called 'millionaire tax' as key priorities. The party also formally confirmed Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek as campaign leader. The Social Democratic Party is trying to respond to dwindling numbers in opinion polls, which have placed the party as low as 10 percent.
Former PM to return to Social Democrats
Former prime minister and former chairman of the Social Democratic Party Jiří Paroubek, who retired from politics in 2014, has applied to rejoin the party he once led, Marek Semerad the head of the Kolín party branch confirmed. According to Mr Semerad, Paroubek - who entered high politics in 2005 - has "not said his last word" in politics. Local Social Democrats are expected to approve his membership next week. Paroubek was party leader from 2006 - 2010 but resigned after winning a Pyrrhic victory in the 2010 election which left him unable to form a new government. He later left the ranks of the party and founded the leftist LEV 21 which failed to win any seats in the lower house when voters next went to the polls.
Highest number of traffic fatalities in single day
Six people died in traffic accidents in the Czech Republic on Friday - the highest number of fatalities in a single day on Czech roads this year, according to the police. Two of the deaths were in the Vysočina region.
Czechs clinch four medals, including two golds, on first day of Canoe Slalom World Cup in Prague
Czech competitors took four medals on the first day of the 2017 Canoe Slalom World Cup being held in Prague's Troja. Kayakers Vít Přindiš and Jiří Prskavec took the gold and bronze medals in the K1 men's category, respectively, while Jonáš Kašpar and Marek Šindler got the gold in the canoe double (C2). Monika Jančová won the bronze in the C1 women's category. The World Cup event in Prague continues on Sunday.
Football champions Slavia fined one million crowns
Czech football champions Slavia have been fined one million crowns for failing to respect league licensing regulations. The club played their final match of the season, against Brno, at Strahov rather than at their home stadium, Eden, which had been leased by organizers for a concert by the German band Rammstein. The decision was not contested by Slavia, the Czech FA wrote on its website.
Weather
Sunday should be mostly overcast with some sunny periods. Daytime highs should reach around 24 degrees Celsius.
