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Member of Parliament Filip Turek of the Motorists' party said he will file a lawsuit for protection of personality rights against President Petr Pavel, seeking an apology over the president’s refusal to appoint him environment minister. Turek said Pavel’s reasoning had deeply offended him and again ruled out a competence lawsuit by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. In a letter to Babiš, Pavel said he must protect fundamental constitutional values, including rejection of totalitarian ideologies, arguing that Turek’s past statements and conduct cast doubt on his loyalty to those values, including remarks that praised or downplayed Nazi Germany.

Rescue teams have been working through the night to evacuate an injured man from an inaccessible cave system in the Moravian Karst near Rudice in the Blansko region. Firefighters said late on Saturday that the man would likely be brought to the surface in the early hours of Sunday. He is trapped at a depth of about 50 to 70 metres and some 250 to 300 metres from the entrance. Around 70 to 80 firefighters and cave rescue specialists are on site, widening narrow passages so a stretcher can pass. The man, who suffered injuries to his lower limbs, is conscious and in stable condition. Specialists from the Fire Rescue Service and the Speleological Rescue Service of the Czech Speleological Society are assisting in the final phase of the operation.

Czech speed skater Nikola Zdráhalová claimed a silver medal in the 1500 metres at the European Speed Skating Championships, securing the biggest success of her career. Victory went to Norway’s Ragne Wiklund, who also won the 3000 metres earlier in the championships. The 29-year-old Czech entered the race among the medal contenders, having posted the second-fastest time of the season among the starters. Skating in the same pairing as Wiklund, Zdráhalová finished just 0.29 seconds behind the Norwegian winner, underlining her strong form at the continental event.

Corruption, the state of public finances and healthcare are seen as the most pressing problems facing Czechia, according to a survey by Centre for Public Opinion Research (CVVM). Fifty-seven percent of respondents rated corruption as a very urgent issue, followed by public finances at 55 percent and healthcare. Around two fifths also consider energy, the political situation, the economy, immigration and security to be highly urgent. By contrast, culture and the availability of goods and services were seen as least pressing. Opinions were sharply divided on unemployment, human rights and Czechia’s membership in the European Union.