Czech news in brief for October 2: Wednesday's top headlines

Minister of Labor Marian Jurečka announced to parliament today that the government is proposing an amendment to cap the retirement age at 67 years, with a gradual increase starting in 2050. This is part of their pension reform plan, which aims to extend the retirement age following the rise in life expectancy. If no changes are made, the current pension financing system will result in a deficit of CZK 500 billion in less than 30 years, according to Jurečka.

Multiple flights between Prague and Tel Aviv have been canceled today due to escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Smartwings canceled two departures and two arrivals, while Blue Bird Airways canceled one of each. The situation remains unpredictable, with all arrivals from Israel canceled except for one El Al flight. Hejtmankova noted that carriers react to developments, leading to sudden flight cancellations. Only one flight was diverted today.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced today that President Petr Pavel will appoint new Ministers for Regional Development and Industry on Tuesday at 09:00. The nominee for Minister of Regional Development from the Mayors and Independents party is expected to be confirmed on Thursday and meet with Fiala on Friday. Both candidates will meet with the president on Monday. Fiala expects the cabinet reconstruction to be completed quickly and lead to a more efficient and appreciated government after recent chaos.

According to an updated publication from the Czech version of finance magazine Forbes, Renáta Kellnerová and her family, heirs to the PPF empire (founded by deceased husband Petr Kellner), remain the richest people in the Czech Republic with assets of CZK 386 billion. Other top entrepreneurs in the ranking include Daniel Křetínský in second place and Karel Komárek in third. The biggest change in the ranking was Radovan Vítek jumping to fifth place, pushing former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš down to seventh.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute announced on Facebook that September 2024 had above-normal temperatures and above-average rainfall. Last month saw an average of 178 liters of water per square meter – the highest September total since records began. It was also the second-highest monthly total ever recorded in the Czech Republic. The beginning of the month was unusually warm, with a 5-degrees-Celsius increase in average daily temperatures. The average monthly rainfall for Moravia and Silesia was over 210 liters of water per square meter, leading to mass flooding.

The Czech Republic blocked a EU statement calling for an "immediate ceasefire" between Israel and Hezbollah, preventing a unified stance. Czechia, along with Hungary and Austria, strongly supports Israel. EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell issued his own statement, expressing concern for civilian casualties in Lebanon and urging diplomacy. Czech officials have not yet commented on the decision.

The Czech Health Ministry has received 1,979 compensation claims for illegal sterilizations, mostly affecting Roma women from the 1960s to 2007. Nearly 1,400 claims have been processed, with less than half approved, resulting in payouts of almost 200 million CZK. Victims have until January 2025 to apply under the 2022 compensation law, which offers 300,000 CZK per claim.

Czech lawmakers approved raising the 2024 budget deficit to 282 billion CZK due to flood recovery costs. The increase from 252 billion CZK addresses damage caused by recent severe floods. The original budget plan aimed for a lower deficit, but unforeseen expenses necessitated the adjustment, according to the Ministry of Finance.

Czech and Ukrainian police, with support from Eurojust, dismantled an international telephone fraud gang targeting European Union residents. Operating from call centers, the group extracted money from victims through elaborate scams. Authorities have detained key members of the criminal organization.

Škoda Auto announced that its new Elroq electric vehicle (EV) will hit the market in the first quarter of 2025. The compact SUV, aimed at the growing EV market, features advanced battery technology and a range suitable for urban commuting. The Elroq is expected to strengthen Škoda’s presence in the electric vehicle sector.