News

An image of politician Milada Horáková, who was executed in 1950 during the show trials, was projected onto a lectern at the Czech lower house while Communist Party MPs were giving a press briefing on Tuesday.

News site iRozhlas.cz reported that the projection was the work of three students who were being shown around the Chamber of Deputies by MP Miroslav Kalousek of TOP 09. Mr. Kalousek said he was aware of the students’ intentions. The move comes a week and a half before the 70th anniversary of the death of Milada Horáková.

A Communist Party spokesperson said it did not respect democratic principles because it had occurred at Parliament.

Government leaders ANO look set to call a special session of the lower house to debate a CZK 500 billion budget deficit for this year, the minister of finance, Alena Schillerová, said on Tuesday. Ms. Schillerová said a date of June 24 had been provisionally set for the debate.

The finance minister made the comment after a meeting with President Miloš Zeman. Ms. Schillerová said the head of state had pledged to support the record budget deficit, if a large part of it went into investment.

Around 200 people from Český Těšín on the Czech side and Cieszyn on the Polish side of the border gathered on Monday night at a bridge over the River Olza joining the two towns. The silent protest was aimed at highlighting restrictions on movement between the two communities, which are closely connected. Locals also say they have not been informed properly about measures linked to the coronavirus.

Though borders between the Czech Republic and Poland have been opened there is an exception for the Silesian Voivodeship, where Cieszyn is located, because of a high incidence of Covid-19.

Poles may not enter the Czech Republic from the province while Czechs who go there and wish to return have to produce a negative coronavirus test or enter quarantine.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš says it will be a major problem if the Chamber of Deputies does not debate a CZK 500 billion budget deficit for 2020 under what is known as legislative emergency. The lower house Budget Committee on Tuesday recommended that MPs discuss the planned budget deficit outside of this temporary arrangement, which allows for faster approval of legislation.

Mr. Babiš said if the committee’s recommendation were followed this would be a decision against Czech citizens. His cabinet are seeking support for what would be the largest ever Czech budget deficit across all parties, he said.

The government originally envisaged a budget deficit for this year of CZK 40 billion. Since the coronavirus crisis hit, MPs have already voted to increase that figure to CZK 300 billion.