• ANO, SPD and Motorists’ parties continue coalition talks
    10/22/2025

    Negotiators from the ANO movement, the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party and the Motorists’ Party are continuing talks on forming a coalition government. Wednesday’s discussions focus on education, transport and the Interior Ministry. The parties have been meeting daily since Monday and plan to continue through the week. They agree on raising teachers’ salaries and reducing school bureaucracy. SPD and the Motorists want to abolish inclusive education, while ANO prefers to revise it. In transport, all support highway construction and railway investments, though only ANO prioritizes high-speed rail. The three parties also oppose extending emissions trading to transport.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • ANO Party calls EU emissions proposal a failure harming Czech interests
    10/21/2025

    ANO deputy leader Karel Havlíček has described the European Commission’s proposed changes to the ETS2 emissions trading system as a “debacle” that goes against Czech interests. Speaking after coalition talks with the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party and the Motorists’ party, he said the Commission’s positions are becoming increasingly rigid. Environment Minister Petr Hladík argued earlier in Luxembourg that the Commission had, in fact, responded to Czech requests and presented a draft amendment to the legislation. Havlíček insisted, however, that ANO will not allow the ETS2 directive to be implemented into Czech law, calling this “the key line of defence.”
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Security Council approves creation of anti-drone protection committee
    10/21/2025

    The Czech Security Council has approved a proposal to establish a committee for anti-drone protection, drone regulation and development, the Government Office announced. The new body will monitor technological trends, propose legislative and operational measures, and coordinate relevant institutions. Prime Minister Petr Fiala (Civic Democratic Party) said the initiative responds to growing security risks linked to Russian drone activity, recently reported in Poland and other European countries. The committee will include experts from the Defence, Interior and Transport ministries, the army and police. Former defence minister Lubomír Metnar from the ANO party called the move redundant, saying NATO already has similar groups.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Snowboarder Eva Adamczyková returns to competition after maternity break
    10/21/2025

    Czech snowboardcross star Eva Adamczyková is returning to competition after a maternity break. The 32-year-old Sochi 2014 Olympic champion and two-time world champion confirmed her comeback at a press conference, adding that she hopes to qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Adamczyková, a three-time World Cup winner, paused her career in June 2024 due to pregnancy and gave birth to her son Kryštof later that year. Married to actor Marek Adamczyk, she said she missed the sport during training with the national team. “It’s important that my family and Kryštof are happy and don’t suffer because of my racing,” she said.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Ombudsman reports degrading treatment of children in care homes
    10/21/2025

    Deputy ombudsman and children’s ombudsman Vít Alexander Schorm has uncovered cases of degrading treatment in several Czech children’s homes and correctional institutions, including slapping, threats, and forcing children to kneel as punishment. In some cases, he has filed criminal complaints against staff members. Schorm said that physical punishment remains a common disciplinary method in certain facilities. His office notified local child protection authorities and the institutions’ founders in several instances. The investigations are still ongoing and will be made public once completed. Schorm stressed that although caring for children with traumatic pasts can be difficult, it is unacceptable for those entrusted with their care to harm them further.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • ANO, SPD and Motorists agree on pension age cap, differ on welfare spending
    10/21/2025

    The ANO party, the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party and the Motorists’ party agree that the retirement age should be capped at 65, but their visions for pensions and welfare differ sharply. While ANO and SPD propose higher state spending on pensions, family support and public-sector salaries, the Motorists call for deep cuts. According to experts, fulfilling all their promises would require tens of billions of crowns annually. Negotiators from the three parties are now drafting a joint government programme. SPD leader Tomio Okamura said results should be announced on Friday, but ANO’s Karel Havlíček indicated talks may continue over the weekend. ANO leader Andrej Babiš is on holiday and plans to brief President Petr Pavel on Monday.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Fifteen-year-old boy charged with murder of man in a Moravian hostel
    10/21/2025

    Police have charged a fifteen-year-old boy with the murder of a 57-year-old man found dead near a residential building in Zábřeh, northern Moravia, on Sunday morning. Investigators say the teenager brutally attacked the victim, kicking him repeatedly in the head. The man died from devastating injuries. According to police, the attack was random and motivated by aggression and anger. The suspect was arrested within 13 hours and has confessed. Prosecutors have requested that he be taken into custody.

    In the Olomouc Region, this is the eighth murder or attempted murder this year. Although such crimes by minors are rare, police have investigated several in recent years. Nationwide, prosecutors recorded a record 20 murder cases involving children in 2023, compared to just one a decade earlier.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Weather
    10/21/2025

    Cloudy to overcast during the day, with occasional morning fog, especially in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. Scattered rain or drizzle, with only isolated showers in Moravia and Silesia. Daytime highs between 13 and 17 °C.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Havlíček: Coalition parties aim to complete most of program before Monday
    10/21/2025

    According to ANO Party deputy chairman Karel Havlíček, the ANO Party, the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, and the Motorists’ Party will keep negotiating their government program over the weekend. He said the talks will focus on connecting individual policy chapters so that by Monday—when ANO Party leader Andrej Babiš meets President Petr Pavel—about 95 percent of the program will be finalized. The three parties have already discussed industry, finance, and defense, and are now addressing healthcare, social affairs, agriculture, and sports. Babiš, currently on vacation, remains in daily contact with the negotiating teams, Havlíček added.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

  • Poll: Czechs want new government to focus on economy, welfare and housing
    10/21/2025

    Czechs expect the incoming government to prioritize boosting the economy and strengthening social security, according to a post-election survey by the STEM agency for CNN Prima News. Reducing public debt and improving access to housing ranked as the most urgent tasks. Analysts noted that the public’s expectations are often contradictory—demanding both higher social spending and minimal debt. Security against external threats was a priority for only 15 percent of respondents. A clear majority also supports measures to boost birth rates, while the public remains divided over climate policies, defense spending, and aid to Ukraine.
    Author: Vít Pohanka

Pages