News

The Czech Chamber of Deputies, through the governing coalition, has urged President Petr Pavel to appoint ministers proposed by the prime minister without delay or assessment of their suitability. The call concerns Filip Turek, honorary president of the Motorists’ Party, whom Pavel has refused to appoint as environment minister due to his controversial views and statements.

The opposition dismissed the motion as meaningless, noting the president is not accountable to parliament. Pavel acknowledged the resolution but said that he will continue to discuss government appointments only with the prime minister, and that his position on Turek remains unchanged.

While the Chamber has the inalienable right to express its views on ministerial appointments, it cannot impose obligations on the president or dictate how he should act, the Presidential office said in a press release.

Czech senators have paid tribute to Jan Palach at his memorial on Prague’s Wenceslas Square, the Czech News Agency has reported. Senate President Miloš Vystrčil (ODS) laid flowers alongside fellow senators to mark the legacy of the student who set himself alight on January 16, 1969 in protest against the apathy that followed the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968. Flowers were also placed by the Mayor of Prague 1, Terezie Radoměřská (TOP09).

Palach’s memory will be commemorated later today at a traditional gathering outside the Philosophical Faculty of Charles University on Jan Palach Square, which is due to be attended by Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda (ODS).

President Petr Pavel wrote on X that Jan Palach’s act remains, even 57 years on, a reminder that people must continue to defend their fundamental values. PM Andrej Babiš said Palach’s courage and determination are a lasting symbol of the fight for freedom and truth.

Czech tennis player Tomáš Macháč advanced to the final of the ATP tournament in Adelaide, where he will play for the second title of his career. The 25-year-old defeated American Tommy Paul 2–6, 6–3, 6–3 in the semifinals. Macháč overturned the match after losing the opening set, helped by eight aces and 32 winners. It is his third career final. He won his first title last year in Acapulco. In the final, Macháč will face either Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or France’s Ugo Humbert. The tournament serves as a warm-up for the Australian Open, which starts on Sunday in Melbourne.

The Czech Defence Ministry has approved a CZK 5.33 billion (around EUR 213 million, excluding VAT) modernisation of the air base in Čáslav, which is expected to host future F-35 fighter jets. The decision was taken by the minister’s board led by Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party and still needs cabinet approval. The upgrade will include a new runway and taxiways and is planned to last two years. The ministry also approved construction of a new vehicle depot at the Jince base, worth CZK 848 million (around EUR 34 million, excluding VAT), to house modern artillery and other heavy equipment.