Czech news in brief for December 14: Thursday's top headlines

Trust in the Czech government and political institutions is deteriorating, according to a recent poll by Center for Public Opinion Research today. Only 17 percent trust Prime Minister Petr Fiala's cabinet – this figure was at 25 percent in the summer. In contrast, 52 percent of people have faith in President Petr Pavel. 

The Chamber of Deputies and Senate received trust levels of 18 percent and 29 percent respectively. People are also generally dissatisfied with the political situation, with 69 percent unhappy with Czechia’s current state of affairs, according to the survey authors. Levels of confidence in the government are now significantly lower than the 2014-20 average. Mayors saw the highest levels of trust, at about 67 percent.

Chairman of the Pirates party Ivan Bartoš proposed this afternoon nominating two Czech politicians for the post of European Commissioner in 2024: one from the Pirates and another from the Mayors and Independents party. 

Prime Minister Petr Fiala previously acknowledged the joint nomination by Pirates and STAN for the Czechia’s European Commission representative, although recently stated that only STAN should nominate a commissioner, citing an earlier coalition agreement. Bartoš countered, citing Fiala's prior confirmation of the joint nomination. The Pirates head emphasized the necessity of a capable and widely accepted nominee from their coalition for the European Commission.

The Czech Senate today endorsed the removal of a contentious overtime provision for doctors, which had been met with protests and strikes. A previous change in the law had doubled the amount of voluntary work that doctors could do. However, a revised Labor Code amendment permits hospital doctors and medics to work up to 24-hour shifts rather than take on extra voluntary work. The government U-turn has largely helped call off doctors’ protests.

The proposal by Labor Minister Marian Jurečka and Health Minister Vlastimil Válek awaits President Petr Pavel's approval. Senators urged further healthcare system reforms, encouraging the Health Ministry and government to collaborate on systemic changes.

This year's Christmas is not expected to be white again, according to meteorologists. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute forecasts that most regional cities have only a roughly 20 percent chance of snow.

However, Liberec has the highest probability of snow at 60 percent, while the chances of snow in Prague are very slim. A trend of warm Christmases in recent years is expected to continue in 2023, with temperatures well above freezing.

The Geminid meteor shower will peak on the night of Dec. 14-15, occurring at 8 p.m. and lasting until the culmination of Gemini. Astronomers say this year's conditions for observing the Geminids are favorable, with the moon not interfering with its light. The best time to watch is between midnight and 4 a.m., with up to dozens of meteors shining in the sky per hour.

The phenomenon is caused by the planet 3200 Phaethon, believed to be a former comet. For optimal viewing, choose a location with minimal obstructions and away from urban light pollution, if possible at a higher elevation.

Commuters on the Prague metro today can listen to free concerts at Náměstí Republiky (the vestibule of Palladium shopping center), and Muzeum metro stations (on the vestibules of the green A line and red C lines).

The performances at Náměstí Republiky take place from 2 to 7 p.m., and feature the bands Big Band KJJ, Magic 8, UNIQUITY, kÖtzi, Láskapela, and Big Band VOŠ, whereas the performances at Muzeum start at 5 p.m. and feature SOTOVOX, Láskapela Hangdrum Jiří Šámal, and Pěvecký sbor Dopravního podniku hlavního města Prahy.

The Czech government has approved a 9.2 percent increase in the minimum wage, raising it by CZK 1,600 to a total of CZK 18,900 starting January. The cabinet also announced that four out of the eight levels of the guaranteed wage, which is determined by the difficulty, responsibility, and expertise of the work, will see increases.

Despite calls from trade unions for more substantial raises and opposition from employers seeking a slower pace of minimum wage growth, the government aims to gradually increase the minimum wage to 45 percent of the average wage within five years, in accordance with an EU directive. The proposed amendment to the Labor Code, slated for adoption in the first half of next year, will address regular indexation and a reduction in the number of guaranteed wage levels from eight to four or five.

Prague police, aided by onlookers, rescued a man attempting suicide by jumping from the Palacký Bridge into the Vltava River last Thursday afternoon. The emergency motorized unit employed a rescue throwing bag from a nearby boat, successfully reaching the distressed man clinging to a bridge pillar.

Despite the boat's deck being too high for a safe lift, a life ring facilitated the man's transfer to shore. The rescued individual, examined in the hospital, was later taken to a psychiatric clinic, according to a statement by police spokesman Richard Hrdina on the police website.

The Czech Republic is anticipated to experience a modest economic recovery in 2024, with a 1.7 percent growth in gross domestic product (GDP) following a 0.5 percent decline in 2023, according to Raiffeisenbank analysts. Notably, substantial economic expansion is projected for 2025, with GDP expected to grow by 3.2 percent. Inflation is forecasted to remain high in 2024, with consumer prices growing by 3.4 percent, exceeding the Czech National Bank's 2 percent target.

Raiffeisenbank's Chief Economist, Helena Horská, highlighted challenges posed by weakened foreign demand and emphasized the need for the Czech economy to discover new avenues for growth, particularly in sectors with higher added value.

A rare baby Palawan porcupine, classified as a vulnerable species by the IUCN, was born at the Prague Zoo two weeks ago. The newborn is now on display at the Indonesian Jungle Pavilion. Notably, Prague Zoo is one of only nine European zoos breeding this species, and one of just two where a cub was born this year.

The birth is particularly significant given the low expectations for another healthy offspring from the elderly female porcupine. This marks the tenth Palawan porcupine cub born at Prague Zoo since 2015, contributing to the conservation efforts for this small species native to the Philippine island of Palawan.

In November, Czech banks and building societies granted mortgage loans totaling CZK 16.2 billion, marking a substantial 121 percent year-on-year increase, according to Czech Banking Association Hypomonitor statistics. The interest rate for new mortgages, excluding refinancing, dropped to 5.67 percent, the lowest since July 2022.

This record volume of newly granted mortgages for the second consecutive month is attributed to the deactivation of the debt repayment limit indicator in July and the anticipation of potential mortgage rate drops next year. November, with a one percent month-on-month growth, became the strongest month of the year for mortgages, reflecting a 91 percent year-on-year increase and reaching the highest value since June last year.

Negotiators from the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have successfully brokered an agreement on proposed reforms to the electricity market. The reforms, designed to fortify market stability, protect consumers from abrupt price fluctuations, and decrease European dependence on Russian gas, must now secure approval from both member states and the European Parliament to be enacted.

The Czech Republic, represented by Minister of Industry and Trade Jozef Síkela, had previously expressed support for the agreement, foreseeing benefits such as market resilience, predictability of energy costs, and increased competitiveness for the country's industry.