Czech news in brief for December 10: Tuesday's top headlines

The Czech Republic's inflation remained at 2.8 percent year-on-year in November, unchanged from October, the Czech Statistical Office reported. Prices rose by 0.1 percent from October, lower than expected. Housing costs were the main driver, with rent and utility prices up significantly. Analysts predict inflation will rise in December due to a comparison base effect but expect a gradual slowdown in 2025.

A quarter of Czechs aged 16-65 have poor reading skills, while 29% struggle with problem-solving, according to the OECD's Survey of International Adult Education. The research highlights a decline in reading skills over the past decade. Vocational school graduates without a high school diploma performed worst, with 41% showing very low reading abilities. The results underscore challenges in preparing individuals for the workforce and tackling misinformation.

Czech Minister for European Affairs Martin Dvorak warned that human rights and their advocates are facing increasing attacks in the country. At a Human Rights Day conference, he highlighted challenges, such as the stalled ratification of the Istanbul Convention on violence against women. Human Rights Commissioner Klara Simackova Laurencikova noted rising populism and extreme views that threaten fundamental rights, citing proposals like banning homeless people from public spaces.

Amnesty International has condemned Slovakia for restricting freedoms of assembly and speech in its latest human rights report. The NGO criticized a June law limiting protests, alleging it violates constitutional and international commitments. Additional concerns included discrimination against Roma and LGBT+ communities, increasing government control of public media, and inadequate protections for transgender people. Progressive Slovakia has challenged the protest law in the Constitutional Court.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala expressed confidence that President Petr Pavel will approve the 2024 state budget with a CZK 241 billion deficit following a meeting with Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura. Pavel will announce his decision by Dec. 17, per the Presidential Office. While some items, including carbon credit revenues and regional education funding, faced scrutiny, Fiala emphasized the budget's transparency and investment focus. A veto could delay approval, requiring parliamentary action.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala emphasized that any ceasefire in Ukraine must be accepted by Kyiv to avoid repeating mistakes like the 1938 Munich Agreement. Speaking to Bloomberg, Fiala warned against appeasement, asserting that territorial concessions would embolden Russia’s aggression. Highlighting Europe’s need to share defense responsibilities, he also called for strong U.S. leadership. Fiala linked Europe’s security to countering Russian threats and drew parallels to Czechoslovakia’s historical occupations.

The Czech Constitutional Court will rule today on two significant cases. One concerns stricter rules on media ownership and subsidies for politicians and their companies. The other involves Legalizace editor Robert Veverka, fined 100,000 crowns for allegedly promoting drug addiction through his cannabis magazine. Veverka argues that the case infringes on free speech, while authorities claim the publication crossed legal boundaries by encouraging illegal drug activities.

Czech unemployment increased to 3.9 percent in November, up 0.1 points from October, returning to September levels, the Labor Office reported. The number of jobless rose to 290,425, while job vacancies fell to 255,641. Prague had the lowest unemployment at 2.8 percent, while Karviná recorded the highest at 8.3 percent. Labor market pressure persists, with 1.1 job seekers per vacancy nationwide, highlighting regional disparities in employment opportunities.

According to the Czech Nature Conservation Agency, a wolf has been spotted in the Iron Mountains Protected Landscape Area of East Bohemia for the first time in two centuries. Captured twice on photo traps, the wolf’s reappearance follows a decade of gradual recolonization across Czechia. Conservationists urge the public to share sightings to help secure livestock and monitor the species’ return to the region.