Politics

Govt Suing Brussels Again For Halting Payments To Agrofert

The government today approved a second lawsuit against the European Commission over a suspended subsidy for Agrofert. The Czech Republic sued the commission in February but withdrew the complaint after the commission annulled the contested decision. Brussels has suspended payments to Agrofert due to an ongoing audit inquiry into Prime Minister Andrej Babiš for a […]

Prague Gripped By Suspected Russian Intrigue: FT

The Financial Times reports on the Czech Republic’s rapidly escalating feud with Russia over two Prague landmarks that’s got two Czech politicians living under police protection. Prague district mayor Ondrej Kolar was placed under police protection after receiving threats over the removal of a statue of Soviet world war two commander Ivan Konev from the […]

How Central And Eastern Europe Contained COVID-19: FT

Quick action, mandatory face masks, and luck have spared the countries of central and eastern Europe (CEE) the brunt of the coronavirus outbreak, the Financial Times (FT) reports. As COVID-19 infections run rampant across Europe, CEE has contained the coronavirus so well that a glimpse of a post-lockdown world is visible as shops and schools […]

Govt Approves Framework For New Nuclear Plant

The Czech government on Monday (27 April) approved agreements with majority state-owned electricity producer ČEZ setting out the framework for building a new nuclear power block to come online in 2036, state and company officials said. The Czech state has long been in talks with ČEZ, in which it owns a 70% stake, about expanding […]

ministry of finance
Coronavirus Aid Package Grows To CZK 1.19 Trillion

Czech government support for businesses and workers hit by the economic fallout of the novel coronavirus will rise to 1.19 trillion crowns, finance minister Alena Schillerova said. The sum is up from earlier pledges of 1 trillion crowns. The government will offer 216 billion crowns in direct help, including easing tax for firms and aid […]

ministry of finance
Govt Approves Adjusted 2020 Budget

The Czech government approved another adjustment to the 2020 central state budget on Monday, setting the planned deficit at CZK 300 billion as the country deals with the new coronavirus outbreak, Finance Ministry said. Originally, this year’s budget was planned with a 40-billion-crown deficit, but the macroeconomic outlook worsened significantly due to the impact of […]

MOH Paid CZK 1.2B To Shell Company For Face Masks

Opposition parties are calling on Health Minister Adam Vojtech to explain how multiple contracts for medical supplies were awarded to shell companies with little or no revenue. La Factory won a CZK 1.2 billion contract for face masks from the Ministry of Health (MOH). Despite being inactive, with no sales, no employees, and assets of […]

andrej babis
Babis Attacks CNB Over Coronavirus Response

The Czech National Bank has rejected Prime Minister Andrej Babis’s suggestion that it should share its profit with the state and lower interest rates further. CNB stressed that it is independent of the government. The central bank said it was unclear what profit Babis meant. They pointed out that the CNB Bank Board decided to […]