News

The lower house of Parliament is in session to further discuss proposed changes to the  pensions system and higher license fees for the country’s public broadcasters, Czech Television and Czech Radio. Both drafts have come under fire from the opposition parties who are likely to use obstruction tactics. The bills are being debated in a second reading and MPs will be submitting individual amendments. The chamber’s Committee for Social Affairs earlier recommended approving the government's proposal to increase the retirement age above 65 by one month a year instead of the originally proposed two months. The government is arguing that pushing back the retirement age is one of the tools to contribute to the sustainability of the pensions system and reduce pension deficits.

Judiciary sector employees will go on strike from October 7th to the 9th in protest against low wages, their unions announced on Wednesday. Employees in the judiciary have long complained about undignified salaries and work overload and have been on strike alert since May. The unions say they see no option but to strike in view of the unsuccessful negotiations with Justice Minister Pavel Blažek regarding possible salary increases. "The Czech judiciary has long been struggling with problems that threaten the basic working capacity of the entire system. Fundamental underfunding, inadequate staff capacity and work overload are leading to a loss of ability to ensure timely and high-quality performance," the unions said in a statement. Justice Minister Blažek has said he will hold further talks with the unions ahead of the strike.

Czechia has blocked a proposed European Union joint statement calling for an "immediate ceasefire" between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah, preventing the EU-27 from issuing a unified stance on the escalating conflict, according to a report by Euronews, which was confirmed by Czech diplomatic sources.

The Czech Foreign Ministry informed the Czech News Agency that it opposed the statement because it perceived it as limiting Israel's right to self-defense against Hezbollah militants. Czech officials emphasized that the proposed wording failed to acknowledge Israel's need to defend itself from attacks by Hezbollah, which has been shelling northern Israel for months.

The Czech position, confirmed by multiple diplomats and European officials, led EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell to release his own individual statement on the matter.

Wednesday will be mostly overcast with occasional rain and day temperatures ranging between 10 and 14 degrees Celsius.