• Suspect in Pardubice arson attack extradited from Bulgaria to Czechia
    04/24/2026

    A person detained in Bulgaria in connection with an arson attack in Pardubice has been extradited to Czechia. Police are now carrying out criminal proceedings following the transfer, which took place under a European arrest warrant, prosecutors said.

    The fire broke out on March 20 at the premises of LPP Holding, causing damage worth hundreds of millions of crowns. Authorities have detained ten suspects in the case across several countries.

    Five were arrested in Czechia, one in Bulgaria, three in Poland and one in Slovakia. Several suspects are already in custody in Czechia. All face charges related to terrorism and could receive sentences of up to 20 years or exceptional penalties.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • German interior minister to attend Sudeten German congress in Brno
    04/24/2026

    Germany’s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt will attend the Sudeten German congress in Brno in May, a spokesperson for the German Interior Ministry has confirmed. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder has also announced he will take part. The gathering will run from May 22 to 25 and will be held in Czechia for the first time.

    The congress is organised by the Sudeten German Landsmannschaft and was invited to Brno by the organisers of the Meeting Brno.

    The planned event has drawn mixed reactions in Czechia, with critics warning it could reopen historical tensions linked to the post-war expulsion of ethnic Germans, while supporters see it as a step towards dialogue and reconciliation.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Unions and STAN condemn Turek’s remarks about civil servants
    04/24/2026

    Czech trade unions are demanding an apology from MP Filip Turek after he described state employees as “parasites”. Union leader Josef Středula said at the opening of a two-day congress of the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions that such language has no place in politics.

    Turek made the remarks at an event held by media organisation XTV last weekend, where he said his party was carrying out a “rat extermination” at four ministries it controls, referring to the removal of officials he described as progressive, leftist or green. Ministers from the junior coalition party have dismissed a number of officials since taking office earlier this year.

    The Mayors and Independents party also criticised the comments. Its leader Vít Rakušan said Turek should be removed as government commissioner, warning that such rhetoric echoes language used by the Nazis.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • ČEZ and Rolls-Royce sign deal to advance modular reactor project
    04/24/2026

    Representatives of ČEZ, the Czech state-controlled energy group, have signed an agreement with Rolls-Royce SMR to begin preparatory work on small modular reactors. The first unit in Czechia is expected to be built at Temelín Nuclear Power Station.

    The deal, signed at the Industry and Trade Ministry, focuses on setting up an investment model and project financing, and could lead to further joint projects.

    ČEZ has held a roughly 20 percent stake in Rolls-Royce SMR since last year.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Historic military convoy marks World War II anniversary in Prague
    04/24/2026

    A convoy of historic military vehicles drove through central Prague on Friday to mark the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II. Around a dozen restored vehicles were on display outside the United States Embassy Prague. The event has been held annually since 2005.

    Among those taking part was U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic Nicholas Merrick, who said the two countries share key values, especially freedom, and stressed the importance of cooperation within NATO.

    The Freedom Convoy, now in its 21st year, is continuing through southern and western Bohemia to honour U.S. troops who helped liberate the region in 1945. Events will culminate in Plzeň, where the Liberation Festival runs from May 1 to 6.

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    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Babiš rejects new EU budget funding sources, backs tariffs only
    04/24/2026

    Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has rejected plans to expand the European Union’s budget through new revenue streams, backing only tariffs on imports from non-EU countries.

    Speaking to reporters at an informal EU summit in Nicosia on Friday, Babiš criticised the European Commission proposal for the 2028 to 2034 budget, which includes new funding sources such as taxes and would reduce allocations for Czechia. He also warned against expanding the Commission’s control over spending.

    He added that EU enlargement should follow the same conditions for all candidates, noting that Western Balkan countries have waited years to join. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, also taking part in the summit, is calling for faster progress on Ukraine’s accession.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Grolich elected Christian Democrats chair
    04/24/2026

    South Moravian governor Jan Grolich was elected chairman of the KDU-ČSL at a party congress in Ostrava on Friday. The 41-year-old was the only candidate and won 233 of 266 delegate votes, having secured nominations from all 14 regions.

    He replaces Marek Výborný, who led the party for two years. After his election, Grolich said he sees the role as a major commitment and the start of a new chapter for the party rather than a final goal.

    Grolich aims to bring the party closer to voters and focus on key challenges such as an ageing population, modernization, and the Czech Republic’s role in Europe. The Christian Democrats hold 23 seats in the 200-member lower house.
    Author: Ruth Fraňková

  • Controversial rapper Kanye West due to perform in Prague in July
    04/24/2026

    Controversial US rapper Kanye West is due to appear at the horse track in Prague’s Cuchle district on July 25, a spokesperson for the facility told the Czech News Agency. The promoters of the show have signed a contract with the venue.

    Other European countries have banned the artist from performing over his racist and anti-Semitic statements. West, who now goes by the name Ye, also sold swastika T-shirts and released a track called Heil Hitler.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Meeting with Pavel over NATO summit set for 8 May, says PM
    04/23/2026

    President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Andrej Babiš are set to meet on 8 May to discuss the former’s participation in a NATO summit in July. Mr. Babiš shared this information with journalists on Thursday but refused to elaborate further.

    The prime minister has previously said that he expects a delegation of him, the minister of foreign affairs and the minister of defence to represent Czechia at the conference in Ankara.

    For his part, Mr. Pavel has said that under the constitution the head of state represents the country abroad and that previous Czech presidents have attended NATO summits.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

  • Turek says Motorists exterminating parasites with layoffs at ministries
    04/23/2026

    MP Filip Turek says his Motorists party is carrying out “rat extermination” at the four government ministries it controls. Speaking at an event held by media organisation XTV last weekend, Mr. Turek said the successful removal from the ministries of “progressive, leftist, green and other parasites” was taking place, the news outlet Blesk reported. Ministers from the junior coalition party have dismissed numerous officials since taking office earlier this year.

    President Petr Pavel refused to appoint Mr. Turek a minister after racist comments were attributed to him in the media. The former MEP is now government commissioner for climate change and the EU’s Green Deal.
    Author: Ian Willoughby

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