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Defense spending must be used wisely and in line with the needs of the Czech Army and the country’s commitments within NATO, leaders from the ANO party, which is leading negotiations on the next Czech government, said on Tuesday at the Vítkov Memorial ceremony. ANO deputy chair Alena Schillerová told reporters that while the party supports allocating two percent of GDP for defense, the money must be spent effectively. ANO vice-chair Karel Havlíček emphasized that defense procurements must be transparent and aligned with both national and alliance priorities. Havlíček said the Czech Republic should focus in particular on strengthening its air defense and anti-drone capabilities. NATO member states agreed at their June summit in The Hague to increase collective defense spending to five percent of GDP by 2035, a goal that ANO leader Andrej Babiš has previously called unrealistic.

For the seventh year, people across the Czech Republic could mark the anniversary of Czechoslovakia’s founding by taking part in the Sokol Run for the Republic. The sporting event, which connects dozens of unique locations in the Czech Republic and abroad, draws thousands of participants every year.

Held every year on October 28 since 2019, the run is organized primarily by local Sokol clubs. Race distances range from 4 to 10 kilometers, with many locations also hosting shorter runs for children. The largest event traditionally takes place in Prague, starting from the Tyrš House in Malá Strana, with runners dressed in national colors making their way through the Petřín Gardens.

The first Sokol Run for the Republic was launched in 2019 to commemorate the centenary of the historic Sokol relay.

Many state institutions in Czechia traditionally marked the national holiday by opening their normally inaccessible premises to the public. Visitors were able to tour the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate, and the ministries of education and industry and trade free of charge. The Municipal House, where the birth of an independent Czechoslovak state was declared on October 28, 1918, was also open to the public.

The traditional Concert for the Republic will be held at the Municipal House on Tuesday evening. The Prague Symphony Orchestra will perform Smetana’s My Country under chief conductor Tomáš Netopil.

Speaking to foreign diplomats gathered at Prague Castle ahead of Czechoslovak Independence Day, President Petr Pavel said he is proud that the Czech Republic stands firmly with those who defend law, truth and dialogue, linking this stance to the country’s continued support for Ukraine.

Reflecting on the recent parliamentary elections, Pavel praised the high voter turnout, saying it showed that people “care deeply about the direction their country takes.” According to him, the results proved that “most citizens reject extremes and wish to preserve a pro-Western orientation.”

The president pledged to help maintain strong institutions, firm democratic principles and a consistent foreign policy, built on three pillars. The first is security and solidarity, with Czechia remaining an active NATO ally and a steadfast supporter of Ukraine’s defense. The second pillar, Pavel said, is European cohesion, with Czechia acting as an active and constructive member of the European Union. The third is the defense of human dignity and freedom, both within the United Nations and beyond.