Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis’s minority government won approval on Friday for the 2021 budget after agreeing to a demand from the Communist Party to cut the NATO alliance member’s defence budget. The budget plans a 320 billion crown ($15 billion) deficit although that will likely rise once lawmakers approve a planned record tax cut […]
The Senate called on the government not to include companies from Russia and China, countries that are at risk from the point of view of Czech national security, in the tender for the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant. The upper house today approved the call on the proposal of its security committee. “The Senate calls on […]
Czech restaurants, hotels and indoor sports venues, which reopened from a coronavirus lockdown only two weeks ago, must shut again from Friday in response to a new rise in infections, Prime Minister Andrej Babis said on Monday. The Czech Republic has suffered a surge in cases since September; a peak of over 15,000 cases a […]
The Czech Republic inched close on Thursday to a record tax break the government says will help overcome economic pain from the coronavirus crisis but which opponents criticise for undermining the budget and helping mainly richer Czechs. The Senate voted on Thursday to reduce taxes by about 100 billion crowns next year, or about 1.7% […]
The Czech lower house on Wednesday approved giving the government an extension of state of emergency powers to Dec. 23, a shorter period than the cabinet sought as it looks to contain rising COVID-19 infections. Daily COVID-19 case tallies are increasing again in the central European country that was among the worst hit in Europe […]
The tender for the new nuclear unit in Dukovany will be delayed until the end of the year as politicians decide whether to allow Russian and Chinese bidders to participate due to security concerns. Today, the Standing Committee on Nuclear Energy discussed with the opposition four possible options, which will be addressed by the heads […]
There’s even bigger trouble ahead for billionaire Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš after Brussels found his business ties represent a conflict of interest, according to the transparency watchdog that first raised the complaint. A document seen by POLITICO shows the European Commission has officially confirmed an audit last year that found Babiš still controls an agricultural conglomerate he founded, […]
The Czech Republic should phase out coal by 2038, a national commission on coal’s future recommended on Friday, which would be one of the later target dates in Europe as part of the continent’s efforts to cut carbon emissions. The Czech Republic currently uses coal for just under half of its electricity production, some of […]
The Czech Republic plans to boost its mission in Jerusalem without moving its embassy, Prague announced on Wednesday. The Czech Foreign Ministry said the new office would be part of “efforts to strengthen Czech-Israeli relations further,” but emphasized that “this is not about opening a new embassy.” The diplomatic office is slated to be opened […]