• Weather
    10/22/2024

    People in Czechia can expect morning fog or low clouds in some areas, particularly in Moravia on Wednesday. High temperatures between 12 and 16°C.

  • Car production in Czechia rose by nearly 8 percent in three quarters of 2024

    10/22/2024

    Car production in Czechia rose by 7.8 percent in the first three quarters of the year, reaching nearly 1,1 million vehicles. Of these, a little more than 100 thousand were electric vehicles, with their share in total production falling to 9.7 percent, a decrease of 3.5 percentage points. A total of about 75,000 vehicles were sold domestically, while over a million were exported, marking an 8.8 percent increase in exports. Car production results are typically a strong factor in the overall growth of the Czech economy.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Czech government plans to invest in Rolls-Royce's small modular reactor
    10/22/2024

    ČEZ, a partially state-owned Czech energy company, is set to make a major investment in Rolls-Royce's small modular reactor (SMR) division. A deal is expected to be signed soon, Czech Minister of Trade and Industry Lukáš Vlček (Mayors and Independents Party) told Czech Radio. The capital investment is estimated to be in the range of several hundred million British pounds, or billions of Czech crowns. This partnership aims to boost not only the energy sector but also Czech industries such as engineering and electronics. While the government supports the nuclear sector's development, plans for a state-owned gas company are currently on hold due to a lack of funding.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Czech opposition keeps solid support less than a year before elections
    10/22/2024

    Opposition ANO Party maintains steady support ahead of next year's elections, while voters of the governing coalition are increasingly uncertain, shows research by PAQ Research Institute for Czech Radio. Sociologist Michael Škvrňák notes that the government’s support is lower than a year ago, with many voters wavering between parties or considering not voting at all. ANO has successfully mobilized support from non-voters and smaller parties.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • MPs expected to fast-track approval of flood relief support
    10/22/2024

    The Czech Parliament is set to fast-track the approval of emergency aid for people affected by recent floods. MPs will also re-vote on a government bill limiting the use of lay judges in court panels, which was vetoed by President Petr Pavel. The Tuesday session starts with a debate on the agenda, with the flood relief expected to be discussed under a state of legislative emergency, allowing for same-day approval. The bill extends care benefits for parents of children under 10 and offers housing support for those in financial hardship.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Czech security services to receive a mild raise
    10/21/2024

    Members of the Czech Republic's security forces, including police officers and firefighters, will see their salaries increase by CZK 1500 in 2024, according to Interior Minister Vít Rakušan (Mayors and Independents). This raises wage funds by 5% compared to this year. Union representatives, however, are demanding a 6.9% increase, roughly CZK 2200. The government recently approved a similar salary hike for top officials and judges. Rakušan added that salary funds would continue to increase by 5% in both 2026 and 2027, with further negotiations planned in November.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Ministers unveil recovery plans for flood-affected regions
    10/21/2024

    The Czech government has so far provided 400 million crowns in aid to households affected by September’s floods, Minister Marian Jurečka (Christian Democrats) announced. Plans for temporary housing support, ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 crowns monthly, are being developed. Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura (Civic Democratic Party) estimated state property damages at 25-30 billion crowns and emphasized the lengthy recovery process ahead. The government has allocated 3 billion crowns for flood recovery, including 2 billion for water infrastructure restoration. Support for businesses is also being prepared, with discussions on investment in innovation underway.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • The Prague Public Transport Company dismisses its CEO
    10/21/2024

    The supervisory board of the Prague Public Transit Company (DPP) removed its CEO in response to new corruption charges that surfaced last week. The DPP, the largest company operated by the City of Prague, with a budget in the tens of billions of crowns, has been repeatedly plagued by corruption allegations and legal actions in the past. The supervisory board voted to remove Petr Witowski from the board of directors, which also means his automatic departure as the company’s CEO.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Slovakia: Andrej Babiš did not collaborate with the communist secret police
    10/21/2024

    Slovakia's Interior Ministry has acknowledged that former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, now the leader of the main Czech opposition party ANO, was wrongly listed as an agent of the former Czechoslovak communist secret police (StB). The ministry now states that he did not knowingly collaborate with the StB. A settlement was reached between the ministry and Babiš in his lawsuit regarding his wrongful registration in the StB files, which was approved by the court. The case has been dragging on for over 12 years at different courts on various levels reaching different verdicts. In reaction, Prime Minister Petr Fiala (Civic Democratic Party) labeled the announcement as a simple political deal rather than a decision of an independent court, pointing out that Babiš is close to the Slovak politicians who are now in power.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Weather
    10/21/2024

    Clear to partly cloudy, with occasional rain or showers to some areas in Bohemia. High temperatures between 12 and 17°C.

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