Czech news in brief for October 11: Friday's top headlines

Prague Deputy Mayor Zdeněk Hřib has announced his candidacy for the Czech Pirate Party president, aiming to shift the party toward the liberal center and focus on issues affecting ordinary citizens. Hřib plans internal reforms and wants the Pirates to regain voter appeal through economic policies. Other candidates include outgoing Senator Lukáš Wagenknecht and former Ostrava councilor David Witosz. The election will take place on Nov. 9 in Prague.

Banks and building societies in Czechia provided CZK 24.2 billion in mortgage loans in September, down by CZK 8.1 billion from August’s unusually high demand. Despite this, year-on-year mortgage growth remains at 80 percent. Interest rates on new loans slightly dropped to 4.96 percent. The surge in August was likely due to changes in early repayment rules, with the market now stabilizing. Mortgage rates are expected to decrease further.

A recent Ipsos survey shows that 60 percent of Czechs experienced stress impacting daily life in the past year, with over a quarter missing work due to stress. Globally, 62 percent reported similar struggles, with higher rates of absenteeism. Women and Gen Z reported higher stress levels, with 85 percent of young adults feeling overwhelmed. The survey highlights a global concern over mental health prioritization, especially on World Mental Health Day.

Following requests from local governors, the Czech government has extended the state of danger in flood-affected areas of the Olomouc and Moravia-Silesia regions until mid-November. The state of danger allows for faster mobilization of soldiers and firefighters and streamlines infrastructure repairs without needing building permits. The government may extend the state if necessary, with the current measures aiding regions recovering from severe floods three weeks ago.

Temperatures in the Czech Republic will be changeable this weekend, with highs of up to 15°C during the day. However, ground frosts are expected Saturday morning, with nighttime lows dropping as low as -1°C in some areas. According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, a cold front from the northwest will influence weather patterns, bringing rain to parts of the country on Friday and Saturday before clearing by Sunday.