Czech news in brief for March 20: Wednesday's top headlines

According to Labor Minister Marian Jurečka, the Czech government has today approved a draft amendment to the Labor Code that will automatically increase the minimum wage until 2029 to correspond to exactly 47 percent of the average gross national wage. This follows an EU directive recommending a minimum wage of 60 percent of the median gross wage. Currently, the Czech minimum salary is CZK 18,900, or 41.1 percent of the average gross wage.

ANO parliamentary club chairwoman Alena Schillerová stated in parliament this afternoon that the opposition party is not a security risk for the Czech Republic, following claims by cabinet members that ANO was dangerous for the country's future. She said the connection between Prime Minister Petr Fiala and the PDZ credit union, in which Fiala had undeclared shares, poses a risk. Fiala in response said he had nothing to hide and that he had not done anything illegal.

The Czech National Bank (CNB) has this afternoon reduced the country’s base interest rate to 5.75 percent – the lowest level since June 2022. This decision, along with the lowering of the Lombard and discount rates, was prompted by rising services prices and a deprecating Czech crown. The CNB started the decline in interest rates last December, when it lowered the base interest rate by one-quarter of a percentage point, to 6.75 percent. Before that, rates were unchanged at 7 percent for 18 months.

Former Czech President Miloš Zeman is currently undergoing rehabilitation after surgery at Prague-Motol University Hospital. Although his condition remains serious, he has shown improvement and can now walk with a walker, the hospital reports. The medical board overseeing his health has not given an estimate for his hospital stay, but he may be moved to a different unit by the end of the week. Zeman, aged 79, underwent emergency surgery last Thursday to remove a blood clot in his leg and has since begun rehabilitation.

The Czech Republic’s population rose to 10.90 million in 2023, primarily due to migration, marking a 73,000 increase. While immigration declined by 60 percent from 2022, births dropped to a 22-year low at around 91,200. Death rates fell by 6 percent, and marriage and divorce rates remained relatively stable.

Czech PM Fiala accused the country’s opposition, particularly ANO leader Andrej Babiš, of jeopardizing national security amidst the Russia-Ukraine crisis in a special parliamentary session convened over leaked emails revealing Babiš’s inquiries into officials. Fiala warned against Babiš’s divisive rhetoric, contrasting it with the coalition’s security efforts. Opposition decried the session as a political maneuver ahead of elections.

Finland and Canada have joined the Czech initiative to purchase ammunition for Ukraine. Finland pledges 30 million euros, while Canada’s contribution exceeds 40 million Canadian dollars. The initiative aims to procure 800,000 artillery rounds, with 20 countries participating, including Germany, the Netherlands, and Poland.

Czech scientists report ticks are more prevalent in city parks than forests, with 3,300 collected last year in regional city parks, 44 percent carrying Lyme disease. Researchers urge public involvement in monitoring, encouraging reporting, and photographing ticks. Results show urban areas have higher tick activity, emphasizing the importance of precautionary measures.

Novy Bor glassmakers are crafting crystal medals for the upcoming World Ice Hockey Championships in Prague and Ostrava. The Kolektiv Atelier firm is employing various professions to produce the medals, ensuring a supply of 50 medals of each type with extras as backup. The design resembles ice with skate grooves.

Today, around 1,600 tractors and other farming equipment will hit the Czech roads during farmers’ protests, primarily in regional areas and border crossings. Minister of Agriculture Marek Výborný stated that the government lacks rescue packages if the protests continue. European protests highlight agrarian sector issues at national and EU levels. Protest rides will occur mainly in the regions and at border crossings; farmers should not go to Prague.