Czech news in brief for January 31: Friday's top headlines

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský and Prime Minister Petr Fiala denied Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico’s claims that the Czech government is interfering in Slovakia’s affairs. Fiala called the accusations “absurd” in a post on X, subtly referencing opposition leader Andrej Babiš’ past support for Fico. Last March, Fiala's government interrupted Czech-Slovak intergovernmental consultations due to differences of opinion on key foreign policy topics.

The Czech Republic recorded 269 new HIV cases in 2024, a 6.3 percent increase from 2023, according to the National Institute of Health. Unlike previous years, most new cases were Czech citizens, while foreigners accounted for 41.6 percent, the lowest in five years. Nearly 87 percent of transmissions occurred through sexual contact, with men who have sex with men making up 58 percent. Heterosexual transmission also continued to rise.

A recent survey by the Center for Public Opinion Research found that 40.7 percent of Czechs identify with the political right, marking a slight decline, while 23.9 percent align with the left, showing a minor increase. The left’s presence had dropped steadily from 2013 to 2020 before stabilizing. Meanwhile, roughly a quarter of respondents remain centrist, and 9.8 percent are undecided. The Czech political landscape continues to shift as ideological trends evolve.

The Czech economy expanded by 1 percent in 2024 after contracting by 0.1 percent the previous year, according to a preliminary estimate from the Czech Statistical Office. In the fourth quarter, GDP grew 1.6 percent year-on-year and 0.5 percent from the previous quarter. Growth was driven by higher household and government spending, while manufacturing declined. A revised estimate will be released in March for greater accuracy.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico accused Czech politicians and media of meddling in Slovakia’s internal affairs during a meeting with foreign diplomats Wednesday. Addressing Czech Ambassador Rudolf Jindrák, Fico criticized Czech media for portraying Slovakia’s leadership unfairly, calling it indecent. His remarks follow ongoing tensions between Slovakia and Czechia over political narratives and media influence. "It is far beyond acceptability and any notion of decency," he affirmed.

Former Czech President Milos Zeman has issued a court-mandated apology to journalist and political advisor Zdeněk Šarapatka for falsely claiming he was fired by two prime ministers. The apology was published on Parlamentni listy, where the defamatory remarks were made. Zeman must also compensate Šarapatka with CZK 50,000. He did not appeal the December ruling, making the verdict final.

Over 1.5 million Czech students received mid-year report cards Thursday, though flu-related absences delayed some. For the first time, schools could issue criterion-based evaluations, highlighting specific learning progress. Some educators say this approach provides clearer feedback than traditional grades. While some schools embrace the change, others prefer numeric grading, citing its role in admissions. The Education Ministry supports the shift away from grade conversion.

The fate of the Center for Architecture (CAMP) building remains uncertain as Prague has yet to allocate funds for its reconstruction. Despite an approved repair plan and a selected contractor, the city is still evaluating the project. Deputy Mayor Petr Hlaváček expects construction to begin in the fall, pending possible subsidies. The council is reviewing a petition urging restoration.

After a mild spell, winter will return to Czechia this weekend, with temperatures near freezing and snowfall expected, especially Sunday. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute warns of icy conditions Friday morning, particularly in eastern Bohemia. Saturday will bring partly cloudy skies with occasional mountain snow, while Sunday will see increased snowfall. Next week, temperatures will stay around zero, with nighttime lows possibly reaching -8°C.

The National Theatre in Prague premiered The Privatisation on Thursday, a drama by Petr Erbes and Boris Jedinak inspired by Czech billionaire Petr Kellner’s life and 2021 death in a helicopter crash. The play blends documentary material and fiction, exploring Czech economic and political transformations. Kellner’s widow, Renata Kellnerova, remains the country’s wealthiest person, according to Forbes.