News

Newly elected members of the Czech lower house meet on Monday afternoon for their first session after the October election, officially resuming the Chamber’s work. An hour before the meeting, representatives of the ANO party, the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, and the Motorists’ party sign a coalition agreement and present the programme of their future government being formed by ANO leader Andrej Babiš. During the opening session, MPs take their oaths and establish the mandate and immunity committee. The election of the new speaker and deputy speakers, the most closely watched part of the proceedings, is scheduled for Wednesday. The coalition deal defines the government’s key policy goals and allocates political posts among the parties. It also sets procedures for parliamentary cooperation and dispute resolution, though it carries no legal force. All ANO, SPD and Motorists’ MPs are to sign it as well.

The Week of the Czech Academy of Sciences starts on Monday, inviting the public to explore science through lectures, exhibitions and lab tours across the country. Visitors can learn about satellites, X-rays, and nanotechnology, or join special programmes marking the 300th anniversary of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Admission is free, though some events require registration. The fifth annual festival features over 300 events in dozens of towns and research institutes. The opening ceremony in Prague includes the unveiling of a rare woodcut owned by the Academy Library, comparable to pieces held by the British Museum and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Czech midfielder Tomáš Souček scored his 37th Premier League goal as West Ham defeated Newcastle 3–1, sealing the team’s first home win since February. The Czech national captain is now just one goal away from matching Patrik Berger’s national record in England’s top flight. Newcastle took an early lead through Murphy, but Lucas Paquetá and an own goal by Botman turned the game around before halftime. Souček, who came on in the second half, secured West Ham’s victory in stoppage time, sliding in Bowen’s rebound to the delight of home fans at London Stadium.

Czechia must comply with the approved European emissions trading system ETS 2, otherwise both citizens and the state could face financial penalties and lose EU funding, Environment Minister Petr Hladík (Christian Democrats) said on CNN Prima News. The new system extends carbon allowances to road transport and heating. Opposition MP Patrik Nacher from the ANO party said the future government would do everything to block ETS 2, even at the cost of fines. Hladík stressed that Czechia had already negotiated a price cap mechanism within the system and that the European Commission had promised to reflect this in its proposals. Pirate Party leader Zdeněk Hřib warned that rejecting EU rules could result in fines of hundreds of millions of crowns annually and a loss of income from existing emission schemes.