News

Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil (Civic Democratic Party) has criticised lower house Speaker Tomio Okamura for remarks made in his New Year’s address that triggered diplomatic tensions with Ukraine. Speaking to Czech Radio, Vystrčil said Okamura, leader of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, is failing to act impartially, as he promised after his election, and is instead using the office for personal and party gain. He stressed that the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies represents the Czech Republic first and must respect the country’s foreign policy strategy and differing views in parliament.

MP 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.

Czech National Bank posted a loss of 72.9 billion crowns last year, reversing a record profit in 2024, mainly due to the strengthening of the Czech currency. The bank said the crown’s nearly 15% appreciation against the US dollar reduced the value of its assets, while the costs of monetary policy operations also weighed on the result, despite falling year on year. At the same time, income from foreign exchange reserves rose to a record level, helped by higher equity holdings and additional gold purchases. The loss will deepen the bank’s accumulated deficit from previous years. The central bank stressed that generating profit is not its primary goal, which remains price and financial stability.

The new Czech government wanted to send a clear signal to Ukraine that dialogue and swift contact are a priority, Foreign Minister Petr Macinka said after talks in Kyiv with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha. According to Macinka, the Ukrainian side made major concessions in negotiations, demonstrating a genuine commitment to peace and an end to the war. He added that responsibility now lies with Russia. Macinka also welcomed a compromise ensuring the continuation of the Czech-led ammunition initiative. Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia’s invasion since February 2022 with Western support.