News

The lower house of the Czech parliament continued its debate on Thursday ahead of a crucial vote of confidence in the new cabinet led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the ANO party leader. During the session, Babiš told the Chamber of Deputies that he will not consent to being released for criminal prosecution in the long-running Stork Nest subsidy case. Babiš said he does not question the judiciary as a whole but argued that some judges make politically motivated decisions. The case, involving a subsidy for the Stork Nest complex, has returned to court after higher judges overturned two acquittals. Parliament’s mandate and immunity committee is due to examine the request next week, alongside a separate case concerning Tomio Okamura of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, the ANO party leader, told the Chamber of Deputies he will not consent to being prosecuted over the long-running Stork Nest subsidy case. While saying he does not question the judiciary as a whole, Babiš argued that some judges act politically. Babiš and MEP Jana Nagyová face charges over a €2 million subsidy for the Stork Nest recreation and conference complex in Central Bohemia. Lower courts acquitted them twice, but the Prague High Court overturned both rulings and ordered a guilty verdict. The parliamentary immunity committee will review the request next week. It will also consider a case involving Tomio Okamura of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party. Opposition figures label the ANO-SPD-Motorists' party alliance a “non-extradition coalition,” expecting neither politician to be surrendered for prosecution.

Retail sales in Czechia accelerated their year-on-year growth last November. Excluding sales and repairs of motor vehicles, turnover rose by 4.6%, up from 2.4% in October, according to the Czech Statistical Office. Online sales were the main driver of growth. Month on month, retail turnover increased by 0.8%. Sales rose across food, non-food goods and fuel. According to the statistical office, annual growth was recorded in all retail segments except stores selling computers and communication equipment and outlets focused on household goods.

Despite spending more than €2bn on digitalising public services between 2020 and 2024, Czechia has failed to meet its goals, according to the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ). Only 18% of planned state services are fully digital, even though citizens were meant to gain the right to deal with authorities online by February last year. The watchdog cited weak project management, a lack of IT specialists, incomplete data and unclear responsibility for spending. Many services are still limited to online forms, with further processing done manually. NKÚ president Miloslav Kala warned that results remain poor despite massive investment, though he acknowledged successes such as bank identity and some online applications.