• Head of digital agency offers to resign over eDoklady election issues
    10/04/2025

    Martin Mesršmíd, head of the Czech Digital Information Agency, said he would offer his resignation after technical problems with the eDoklady digital ID system disrupted voters during the parliamentary elections. He admitted the agency underestimated demand, which caused the system to crash on Friday. The agency advised people to use traditional IDs instead. After several capacity boosts, the service was stabilized by Friday evening and fully restored on Saturday. About 800,000 people currently have active eDoklady, which could be used for the first time in this year’s elections.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Voter turnout exceeds 50 percent, some districts report over 60 percent
    10/04/2025

    Voter turnout in the ongoing Czech parliamentary elections has surpassed 50 percent, with several districts reporting participation rates above 60 percent. In the 2021 elections, turnout reached 65.4 percent. Many polling stations report higher participation this year, and earlier technical issues with digital ID cards have mostly been resolved.

    In Prague, turnout ranged around 60 percent by late morning, while some South Bohemian and Moravian districts reported similar or even higher figures. The smallest municipality in the Plzeň Region, Čilá, saw turnout at 87 percent. In most regions, officials note strong interest among both younger and older voters.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • FM Lipavský welcomes Trump’s peace efforts concerning Gaza
    10/04/2025

    Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský (Spolu) said the top priority in ending the Middle East conflict must be the release of all Israeli hostages and the disarmament of Hamas. He welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest peace initiative but warned against trusting the militant group’s promises. Lipavský said any viable solution must involve Arab states and provide lasting security guarantees for Israel. Trump earlier declared that Hamas appeared ready for a permanent peace and called on Israel to halt airstrikes on Gaza to allow the safe release of hostages.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Writer and dissident Ivan Klíma dies at 94
    10/04/2025

    Czech writer, playwright and former dissident Ivan Klíma died early on Saturday at the age of 94, his son Michal Klíma told the Czech News Agency. Author of more than 20 books translated into 30 languages, Klíma was known for exploring human relationships and moral dilemmas in times of oppression. Born in Prague in 1931, Klíma survived three and a half years in the Terezín concentration camp during World War II. Expelled from the Communist Party after criticizing censorship in 1967, he became one of the leading banned authors during the communist regime. Among his best-known works are Love and Garbage, Judge on Trial, and My Crazy Century.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Police report no incidents during Czech parliamentary elections so far
    10/04/2025

    Police have not recorded any incidents related to the ongoing parliamentary elections, spokesman Ondřej Moravčík told the Czech News Agency. Officers have strengthened patrols around polling stations and set up a dedicated thread on X to provide updates if any irregularities occur. Hundreds of officers are on duty, including bomb squads with sniffer dogs, and patrols are also stationed at ballot collection and counting sites. According to Moravčík, there are no signs of attempts to disrupt voting or public order. The government allocated about CZK 32 million from the general budget to cover police expenses for election security.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Czech kayaker Novák wins bronze at World Championships
    10/04/2025

    Czech Matyáš Novák won the bronze medal in kayak cross at the World Championships in Penrith, Australia. The 20-year-old followed up on his success from the World Cup in June, where he finished second in this new Olympic discipline. The gold went to Britain’s Joseph Clarke, with France’s Mathurin Madore taking silver. European champion Jakub Krejčí finished eighth. For the Czech men’s team, it was only the second ever World Championship medal in kayak cross, following Vavřinec Hradilek’s title in 2017. Among women, the best Czech result came from Tereza Kneblová, who was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Czech leaders cast ballots as parliamentary elections get underway
    10/04/2025

    Czech political leaders were among the first to vote as parliamentary elections opened on Friday. President Petr Pavel cast his ballot in Černouček, Litoměřice district, warning that post-election negotiations would be difficult given the deep divides between the government coalition and the opposition. Prime Minister Petr Fiala, leader of the Civic Democrats (ODS) and head of the Spolu coalition, voted in Brno, calling the election a choice between “the past and the future” and urging undecided voters to make their voices heard. Other top figures who already voted include Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil (Civic Dmocrats), ANO Party leader Andrej Babiš in Ostrava, TOP 09’s Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Mayors and Independents chief Vít Rakušan, Pirate leader Zdeněk Hřib, SPD head Tomio Okamura, Motorists chairman Petr Macinka, and Enough! leader Kateřina Konečná.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • More than half of voters cast ballots in Czech parliamentary elections on Friday
    10/04/2025

    By Friday evening, more than half of voters in some parts of Czechia had already participated in the parliamentary elections, according to data from local election commissions. Turnout in many districts is higher than during the 2021 vote. Some voters faced difficulties using the new digital ID system known as eDoklady, prompting the Digital and Information Agency to advise carrying a physical ID as well. In Prague, turnout ranged from about 37 to 53 percent depending on the district, while in Brno it exceeded 51 percent. Polling stations closed at 22:00 on Friday and reopen on Saturday from 08:00 to 14:00.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Protest blocks trams in central Prague
    10/03/2025

    Roughly thirty demonstrators carrying Palestinian flags blocked tram traffic on Národní třída in central Prague shortly before 7 p.m. on Friday. Police, including riot units, intervened and detained 17 protesters.

    The protest, which had not been authorized, brought trams to a standstill when several dozen people sat down on the tracks at Národní třída station. Protesters carried a large banner reading “Israel commits genocide” and waved Palestinian flags. Most had their faces covered with masks.

    Police spokesman Jan Daněk said officers repeatedly called on the protesters to clear the tram tracks, but the group refused to comply. “Officers then intervened, detaining 17 individuals for failing to obey police orders and committing a traffic offense,” Daněk said.

    Tram services resumed at 8:43 p.m., nearly two hours after the blockade began.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

  • Security measures at Prague Airport after drone threat
    10/03/2025

    Police launched a major security operation at Václav Havel Airport on Friday evening after an anonymous call warned of incoming drones. Officials stressed the threat is unverified.

    Snipers and anti-drone defenses were deployed as a precaution. A police helicopter with thermal imaging now patrols the area.

    The caller, speaking English, mentioned a larger number of drones, but police declined to give details on the alleged timing. Authorities say the airspace will be closed immediately if the threat proves real.

    Similar drone alerts have recently been reported in Denmark, Norway, Germany, and Belgium.
    Author: Daniela Lazarová

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