Czech news in brief for May 2: Thursday's top headlines

The presidium of the Agrarian Chamber will decide next week whether to hold protests in Prague on May 22 with other agricultural organizations. They accuse Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný of ignoring their proposals and downplaying the issues facing farmers. According to president of the Agrarian Chamber Jan Doležal, farmers have been talking about further protests, which would be bigger in scale than the previous ones, for more than a month. So far, Prague has seen two farmers’ protest – both significantly disrupted traffic in the capital.

The state budget deficit reached CZK 153.1 billion in April, according to the Ministry of Finance this afternoon. This is the third-largest deficit for April, with last year's record being CZK 200 billion. Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura believes the increase in budget revenue (10.9 percent) compared to last year reflects the start of economic recovery. Stanjura also notes that the current GDP growth is driven by domestic consumption, and it's still too early to fully assess the impact of the 2023 consolidation package on the economy.

The Spolu (Together) government coalition has utilized the absence of a registered campaign slogan for the opposition ANO's European Parliament election campaign by changing ANO’s own domestic slogan – “Czechia, everything for you” – into “Russia, everything for you.” Spolu accused ANO of being overly Russia-friendly and a danger to Czechia’s policies and international standing. ANO's deputy chairwoman Alena Schillerová called it a "hybrid attack" and demanded an apology from Prime Minister Petr Fiala. She called it a “mendacious and mean anti-campaign,” which Fiala denied.

The Health Ministry's newly released analysis of Czechia’s healthcare sector presents a comprehensive plan to address the system’s challenges. The analysis highlights the growing number of elderly citizens and rising healthcare costs as major concerns. The minister emphasizes the need for sustainable and equitable access to quality healthcare, as well as the need to address the disconnect between increased financial coverage and limited improvements in the system's performance. Among other problems, he cites a real decline in the availability of care in the fields, such as mental health care and general medicine for children and adolescents.

Czech MPs are set to tackle key issues in an extraordinary session today. Topics include adjusting the minimum wage increase by 2029, and disciplinary procedures for judges, prosecutors, and executors, and lobbying regulations. The proposed Labor Code amendment aims to align the minimum wage with 47 percent of the average wage by 2029. Disciplinary procedures for legal professionals may become two-stage, allowing appeals. New lobbying rules aim to curb corruption, requiring lobbyists to register and disclose activities biannually.

The Inbound Tourism Concept 2020-2023’s vision has materialized, according to Jana Adamcová, Prague City Tourism's vice-president, who said the strategy has successfully in attracted a refined clientele signaling positive growth in tourism. The residence fee emerges as a pivotal tool for sustainable tourism development. In 2023, Prague collected CZK 801 million crowns from this fee, reinvesting it into campaigns and projects. Consequently, tourist spending surged by 40 percent compared to 2019, with a notable rise in demand for luxury accommodations.

Cloudy skies and showers, accompanied by occasional thunderstorms, are forecaste for the Czech Republic through the weekend, with temperatures rising above 20 degrees Celsius during the day. Fire and strong wind warnings are in effect, with gusts up to 70 kilometers per hour anticipated. Showers, initially isolated, will become more frequent, with rain predicted in some areas from Tuesday. Maximum temperatures will range from 15 to 24 degrees Celsius, with nighttime lows above seven degrees Celsius.

Prague and the Central Bohemian Region are set to launch a record-breaking 60 billion tender for a new train carrier, including the procurement of modernized kits. Scheduled for June, this monumental endeavor will be overseen by anti-corruption organization Transparency International. By 2029, upgraded connections will enhance main suburban lines, with the introduction of at least fifty-four new large-capacity EMU 400 trains, expandable by an additional sixty. The initiative aims to improve service quality, comfort, and safety, addressing past concerns of outdated equipment on critical routes.

The Czech National Bank's Banking Council is poised to announce interest rate adjustments today, with analysts anticipating further reductions following December's initiation of cuts. Predictions suggest a potential decrease of half a percentage point from the current 5.75 percent prime rate, possibly marking the lowest level since May 2022. The move reflects ongoing efforts to stimulate economic growth amid changing global dynamics, as detailed in the CNB's forthcoming macroeconomic forecast.