Czech news in brief for April 15: Tuesday's top headlines

About 1.2 million people, or one-fifth of the Czech workforce, are expected to retire by 2035, Labor Minister Marian Jurečka said Tuesday. Speaking at a conference, he urged gradual exits to ease the labor market impact. The shift stems from demographic changes as strong generations, including those born after 1965, begin to retire. A study predicts 1.9 million entrants—mostly graduates and foreign workers—though challenges in workforce quality and adaptation remain.

ANO remains the leading party in Czech election polls but dropped to 28.1 percent support in April, its lowest since July, NMS Market Research reported today. The Spolu coalition rose to 20.9 percent, while the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party and its allies surged to third with 12.5 percent. Analysts attribute ANO's decline to rising support for smaller opposition parties. Compared to the March model, the SPD strengthened the most, by 5.3 percentage points. Voter turnout is projected at 55.5 percent, down from 65.4 percent in 2021.

Czech opposition party ANO criticized a proposed asylum law amendment Monday, calling it a covert implementation of the EU Migration Pact. ANO leader Alena Schillerová vowed to block the measure, approved by the government earlier this month. The bill, set for debate Wednesday, includes faster deportations and reduced benefits. ANO will veto an accelerated procedure in debating the bill and wants to propose that it be discussed in the security, constitutional law, social affairs, and public administration committees. 

The supply of new apartments in the Czech Republic is projected to grow by 3.6 percent in late 2025 and 4.6 percent in early 2026, according to a study by CEEC Research, a construction industry analytics firm. Despite the increase, prices are expected to rise—by 6.9 percent this year and 4.6 percent in early 2026—as demand continues to grow. In Prague, prices may rise 3.2 percent, with a potential sales record anticipated amid slow permitting. Over 90 percent of the companies surveyed expect an increase in supply this year.

President Petr Pavel on Monday appointed Michael Kohajda and Tomáš Pospiszyl as rectors of Palacký University in Olomouc and Prague’s Academy of Fine Arts respectively. Both will begin four-year terms on May 1. Kohajda, a law professor and MP, and Pospiszyl, an art historian and curator, were elected earlier this year. Pavel urged them to prioritize lifelong learning and the public promotion of education and science. "We have been mentioning the word education a lot lately, education as a priority. Unfortunately, we have not yet succeeded in making it a real priority," Pavel commented. 

The opposition SPD and ANO parties will not attend Tuesday's meeting on a government bill amending asylum and foreigner residence laws. Both oppose the EU migration pact, citing security concerns and lack of public mandate. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan criticized their stance, saying it misleads the public. The proposed amendment aims to speed up deportations, tighten asylum rules, and lower social standards for asylum seekers. The government seeks to pass it via expedited procedure.

The Czechia will lift its ban Tuesday on importing cloven-hoofed animals from Austria’s Burgenland and Lower Austria, citing no confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth disease. Restrictions remain in place for Slovakia and Hungary, though imports of uncooked animal products made before March may resume with certification. Disinfection of vehicles continues. Slovakia reported it ended animal culling and has no new disease cases. The disease hasn’t hit Czechia since 1975.

Boosting Czech industry’s competitiveness and reviewing investment progress are key themes at the “Czechia at the Crossroads” conference in Prague, organized by the Czech Chamber of Commerce and opening today. Business leaders, union reps, and top officials, including PM Petr Fiala, are discussing needed reforms in EU policy to support growth. The conference aims to give Czech leaders a stronger mandate to push changes in Brussels.

The Czech women's hockey team lost 7–1 to Canada in their final Group A match at the World Championship and will face Switzerland in Thursday's quarterfinals. Canada secured second place in the group. Despite a strong start, the Czechs collapsed in the third period. Assistant coach Dušan Andrašovský remains optimistic heading into the knockout round after the team’s earlier 3–0 win over Switzerland.

A Czech tourist died after falling while visiting the Great Wall of China, the Czech Foreign Ministry confirmed. Details about the incident, including the exact location, were not provided out of respect for the family. The Great Wall, spanning thousands of kilometers, is a historic landmark, with some areas in poor condition. The Ministry is investigating the death but has withheld further information.