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A 35-year-old temperature record was broken on Monday in Hliniště, in the South Bohemian part of the Šumava mountains. Meteorologists measured minus 30.2 degrees Celsius, 0.2 degrees lower than the previous record set in 1991, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.

Freezing weather and snow caused rail disruptions in many parts of the country, including Prague. Several passenger trains did not run from Prague’s Radotín to Smíchov station, and one passenger service was cancelled due to a frozen switch in Děčín, according to Czech Railways.

From Monday evening, freezing rain is expected to create ice in the western half of the Czech Republic, spreading eastward on Tuesday. In a belt stretching from northwestern Bohemia through central Bohemia to southwestern Moravia, ice thickness could reach two to five millimeters, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute said. Injuries and transport complications are expected.

The tripartite council of government representatives, trade unions and employers will meet on Monday for the first time in the current electoral term. The agenda includes the government’s policy statement, the draft state budget for this year and emissions allowances.

After the meeting, further talks are scheduled in the evening between cabinet representatives and union leaders on public sector pay rises. Trade unions are demanding a nine percent increase this year for lower-paid workers and civil servants, and a six percent rise for others.

The government rejected the EU’s ETS2 emissions trading system at its first meeting on 16 December and asked Czech MEPs to seek allies against it.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš earlier signaled that the salaries of teachers, police officers, soldiers, civil servants and other state employees will rise from January, despite Czechia entering the year on a provisional budget.

The ANO party would win a January general election with 34.6% of the vote, according to a new model by polling agency STEM for CNN Prima News. ANO thus remains well ahead of its rivals. The Civic Democrats (ODS) would finish second on 14.1%, followed by Mayors and Independents (STAN) with 12.6%. The Pirates and the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party would also clear the five-percent threshold. The Motorists' party and TOP 09 would narrowly miss out. The survey was conducted in early January among 1,000 respondents.

The governing coalition of ANO, the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) and the Motorists' party is set to discuss its response to President Petr Pavel’s refusal to appoint MP Filip Turek as environment minister. Talks will also focus on an upcoming vote of confidence in the cabinet of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. Some SPD lawmakers have linked their support to ending Czech involvement in an ammunition initiative for Ukraine, though Babiš says the country will stay involved without direct funding. SPD leader Tomio Okamura called the stance a coalition compromise.