• 08/22/2024

    The Ministry of Finance has downgraded its growth forecast for this year, predicting that GDP will increase by 1.1 percent. In April, the ministry predicted a growth of 1.4 percent. According to Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura, the deterioration in the outlook is due to a revision of GDP data from previous years, carried out by the Czech Statistics Office.

    The ministry expects the Czech economy to see a stronger recovery next year, with GDP growing by 2.7 percent. Growth will be driven mainly by household consumption, which will grow by 3.9 percent, according to the forecast.

    Author: Ruth Fraňková
  • 08/22/2024

    Lukáš Slavík, a Czech tourist who was detained in Zimbabwe in early August on suspicion of spreading false statements about the country’s critical shortage of electricity and water, may be released on bail, a court in Zimbabwe ruled on Wednesday. However, if found guilty, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

    Police arrested the Czech citizen on August 1 in Masvingo province, about 300 kilometres south of the capital Harare, while he was shooting a video in which he recounted in English the poor economic situation in Zimbabwe. Slavík has been on hunger strike since his arrest on August 2.

    Author: Ruth Fraňková
  • 08/22/2024

    The Senate has criticized the newly-digitized system of construction permits arguing that it has fundamental flaws and the issue needs to be addressed before it causes irreparable damage. The upper chamber on Wednesday passed a resolution saying that the Ministry of Regional Development, which is responsible for the bungled system, should get a crisis manager and establish a working group with representatives of building authorities and the Chamber of Architects so as to resolve the persistent problems. In the course of the three-hour debate, senators warned of dire economic consequences, including a mass exodus of civil servants from the sector and possible lawsuits against the state for delays in construction due to the inability to process construction permits. The head of the Czech Chamber of Architects, Jan Kasl, said that he welcomed the Senate's stand.

  • 08/22/2024

    The Committee for European Affairs of the Czech lower house has approved Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela as the Czech nominee for EU commissioner. Prime Minister Petr Fiala will now formally present the proposal to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. At the end of July, the EC chief asked national governments to submit the names of two candidates, one male and one female, by the end of August. At the time the Czech government had already decided to propose only one name. Prime Minister Fiala said Sikela had all the prerequisites to succeed in the approval processes and to get a strong portfolio.

  • 08/22/2024

    The Senate has passed a government-proposed bill opening the way for postal voting for Czechs living abroad. The bill was supported by 56 out of 68 senators present. The amendment means that expats living abroad will no longer have to travel long distances to cast their ballot. It will now go to the president for final approval and should come into force next year in time for the 2025 general elections. Its passage through Parliament was hindered by the opposition parties who argued that it could be easily abused. Czechs living abroad have long lobbied for this possibility.

  • 08/21/2024

    Thursday is expected to be bright and clear and dry around the country with daytime highs between 21 and 25 degrees Celsius.

  • 08/21/2024

    Czech companies will be actively involved in the post-war reconstruction of the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine, Czech Ambassador to Ukraine Radek Pech said in an interview for the ctk news agency. The ambassador said Czechia had offered its know-how in the energy sector, transport infrastructure, healthcare, water management and engineering, Czech companies are in contact with the representatives of the cities of Dnipro and Kryvyi Rih and the entire region regarding involvement in post-war reconstruction. In order to ensure effective cooperation and coordination of projects, an office will be established in the Dnipropetrovsk region and the Czech Republic plans to open a consulate general there in the future, Ambassador Pech said.

  • 08/21/2024

    The Czech cabinet is due to hold its first session after the summer break on Wednesday evening and ministers have already started discussing next year's state budget. According to Transport Minister Martin Kupka it is clear that the deficit in 2025 will have to be lower than this year's CZK 252 billion and the goal is to keep it under CZK 235 billion. However, several ministers have already indicated that the money allotted to them in the initial draft is insufficient for their needs.

  • 08/21/2024

    President Petr Pavel has urged the Czech authorities to address the problem of overcrowded prisons, pointing out that complex measures are needed, including amendments to the Penal Code. He rejected the idea that amnesty could be the solution to prison overcrowding. “Our penal system largely substitutes for the deficits of the social system, which is very wrong. The consequence of this is that prisons are overcrowded and it costs the state enormous resources," Pavel said, adding that several ministries as well as the private sector and non-profit organisations must address the problem together.

  • 08/21/2024

    Eighty foreign experts on drugs and other addictions have called on the Czech government to maintain the course set by the outgoing national drug coordinator Jindřich Vobořil. In an open letter to the Czech government, experts and representatives of organisations and institutions from 27 countries, wrote that the Czech Republic has become a model of sensitive drug policy in recent years, mainly thanks to Vobořil. Vobořil decided to step down as coordinator at the end of August. Prime Minister Petr Fiala  earlier announced that he would continue to act as his advisor.

    Vobořil has long advocated the introduction of a regulated cannabis market in Czechia and has supported the possibility of using psychedelics in the treatment of mental illnesses, based on scientific research. At the same time he pointed to the danger of excessive consumption of alcohol in Czechia.

Pages