News

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.

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.

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.

The Senate’s Committee on Security has urged the government to address the potential threat of Orthodox churches in the Czech Republic being used for Russian influence operations. In addition, the Committee says Culture Minister Martin Baxa should examine whether the Russian Orthodox Church in the Czech Republic and the Orthodox Church in the Czech Lands are operating in accordance with the law and the conditions of registration. The request comes in the wake of the news that Ukraine’s Parliament has banned the activities of religious groups tied to the Russian Orthodox Church or any other faith group supporting Russia’s invasion of the country.