Czech news in brief for October 13: Sunday's top headlines

Labour Minister Marian Jurečka will propose a 6.9 percent salary increase for politicians in 2024, aligning their pay raises with those in both the public and private sectors. Jurečka also plans to address the pace of salary increases for judges and prosecutors, suggesting they should rise at the same rate as other officials, not significantly higher. The proposal comes after opposition criticism of an earlier plan to raise politicians' pay by nearly 14 percent.

On Monday, the Czech football team will face Ukraine in their fourth match in the Nations League, seeking to build on two recent victories. After a 2-0 triumph over Albania on Friday, coach Ivan Hašek’s squad aims to capitalize on their momentum. The match, held in Wroclaw due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, is crucial as the Czechs look to enhance their chances for promotion to Division A and secure a playoff spot for the 2026 World Cup.

Plzeň police have charged a 40-year-old man with attempted murder and causing serious injury through negligence after he allegedly shot a young girl on Friday. The incident reportedly followed a conflict between the girl's father and the suspect. The girl sustained non-life-threatening surface gunshot wounds to both legs and was transported to a hospital. Authorities quickly apprehended the suspect, who had fled the scene, with assistance from special police units and a helicopter.

Historian Petr Cornej emphasized in a lecture marking the 600th anniversary of Jan Žižka's death that the Hussite general was not a murderer or criminal but fought for the ideals of Hussitism and sought personal salvation. Cornej noted that Žižka was essential to the movement, as his military victories garnered recognition for the Hussites. He argued that current perceptions of Žižka overlook the late Medieval context and fail to acknowledge his contributions and motivations.

Czech employers will soon be required to disclose the minimum salary for job positions and the average wage for comparable roles within their company. This shift, part of a new wage transparency directive, also prohibits employers from asking candidates about previous salaries or enforcing confidentiality clauses on discussing wages. These changes aim to address pay disparities and ensure fair compensation. The directive is set to be implemented by January 2025, with further reforms planned by 2026.

Prague City Hall plans to introduce a ban on organized pub crawls, with the proposal set to be discussed by city councilors on Monday. The move comes after complaints from Prague 1 residents about noisy, drunken tourists disturbing the city’s center. The proposal, aimed at reducing noise, public disturbances, and strain on municipal services, would prohibit pub crawls at night. The city hopes the ban will improve the city’s image and enhance safety for both locals and visitors.

A special police unit was deployed on Saturday after an intoxicated man caused a disturbance at the Nový Smíchov shopping center, scattering spent weapon cartridges around. Initial reports suggested the man was armed, prompting police to respond with multiple patrols and a tactical team. No weapon was found, and the man, a foreign national, was detained after ignoring police orders. He was later handed over to paramedics. The incident occurred in full view of mall visitors.

The Supreme Administrative Court (NSS) has received six complaints following the Czech Senate elections, three of which have already been dismissed for being either premature or late. Candidates have cited reasons such as unfair media exposure and alleged vote miscounting. The NSS, which handles complaints related to Senate elections, must resolve all cases within 20 days. This year’s Senate elections saw ANO winning the most seats, while the ODS and Pirates faced setbacks.

A 74-year-old man tragically died on Saturday after falling from a 15-meter cliff near the Bára lookout tower in the Podhůra forest near Chrudim. Emergency crews responded, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Firefighters provided psychological assistance to witnesses and retrieved the body from the difficult terrain. Police are investigating the incident, which is believed to have been an accident.

Czech Education Minister Mikuláš Bek has described the number of principals in Czech schools as "bizarre," noting that one in 15 teachers also serves as a principal. Speaking at a conference in South Moravia, Bek addressed proposals to merge small schools but emphasized that forced mergers are not planned. He stressed the need for voluntary cooperation and better management in small schools to alleviate administrative burdens on principals.