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Czech banks and building societies provided mortgages worth CZK 52.6 billion (€2.1 billion) in May, 54% more than a year earlier, according to the Czech Banking Association’s Hypomonitor. However, lending fell 14.5% from April, while new mortgages excluding refinancing dropped 14% to CZK 38.1 billion. The average mortgage interest rate increased to 4.67% from 4.52% in April. Banks issued 7,871 new mortgages, up 20% year-on-year. The average loan reached CZK 4.84 million, 17% higher than a year ago, reflecting continued growth in Czech property prices.

The Czech Chamber of Deputies has advanced a government-backed amendment to the Building Act to its final reading after completing the second reading stage. The bill is intended to simplify and speed up the permitting process for new construction projects, including by creating a centralised state building authority and declaring large housing developments to be in the public interest. Lawmakers submitted around 130 amendment proposals, which will now be reviewed by the parliamentary Economic Committee before the final vote. Opposition parties continue to criticise both the substance of the reform and the decision to introduce it as a parliamentary rather than government bill.

Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (ANO) met President Petr Pavel on Thursday to discuss planned healthcare reforms, including mandatory electronic referrals, electronic medical records and changes to public health legislation. They also focused on the long-term financing of the healthcare system, agreeing that the government's planned 24-billion-crown increase in payments for state-insured citizens is only a temporary solution and must be accompanied by structural reforms. Vojtěch also briefed the president on the planned transfer of the government's executive anti-drug agenda to the Health Ministry, saying funding and specialist staff would remain in place despite criticism from addiction experts.

Czech opposition parties have accused Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) of benefiting from proposed changes to the country's conflict-of-interest law, as lawmakers held a special parliamentary session on the issue. The opposition argues the amendment would weaken oversight and make it easier for companies linked to government members to receive public subsidies and contracts, particularly benefiting Agrofert. Babiš, who was attending an event in Plzeň instead of the debate, dismissed the session as "pointless". He maintains that placing his shares in Agrofert into a trust has resolved any conflict of interest under both Czech and European law, while opposition parties continue to call for the suspension of subsidies pending the European Commission's review.