Czech news in brief for October 30: Monday's top headlines

The 79th Prague Spring International Music Festival is set to feature around 50 concerts spanning from May 12 to June 3, 2024, festival director Pavel Trojan told journalists today. The festival will commence with a traditional opening, featuring the Berlin Philharmonic’s performance of Czech composer Bedřich Smetana’s My Country at Prague's Municipal House. 

Next year’s festival will spotlight the Year of Czech Music, with conductor Jakub Hrůša, as its main feature, and will also honor the 200th anniversary of Smetana’s birth. Tickets for festival concerts will be available for purchase on the festival's website starting Nov. 1, 2023. The opening concert will be conducted by Kirill Petrenko, chief conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, known for his deep connection with Czech music throughout his career.

South Bohemian police have announced today they are investigating the murder of a woman whose body was found in a cemetery by a tourist in the Pohoří na Šumava region on Saturday afternoon. Austrian authorities are currently in pursuit of a suspect believed to be connected to the ongoing investigation. A murder of a foreigner occurred in Austria on the same weekend – close to the border – and it is thought that both victims may have been targeted by the same assailant.

The suspect is at large and wanted by both Czech and Austrian police. Investigators are asking the public for help, seeking any witnesses who may have seen the person in question between Thursday and Saturday in and around the town of Pohoří.

Czech President Petr Pavel during a trip to Olomouc today said that the risk of terrorism in Europe and the world would increase drastically if the current Israel-Palestine conflict spilled over substantially to other Arab countries. He pinpointed Iran as being the largest threat.

He also noted that oil prices would most likely surge and illegal immigration from Asia into the EU would rise. However, he did say: "There is no imminent threat [to Czechia] at the moment because no missile fired by Hamas will reach us. But that doesn't mean we should be completely at ease.”

Cases of acute respiratory infections in the Czech Republic have been increasing in recent weeks. According to the Hygiene Service of the Czech Republic, last week doctors reported 1,060 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, a seven percent increase from the previous week. Positive tests for Covid-19 also rose by almost 17 percent, with 32.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants testing positive.

The increase in infections is typical during the autumn period and does not reach epidemic levels. The Ministry of Health advises individuals with respiratory infection symptoms to stay home or wear a mask to prevent spreading the virus. Vaccination against Covid-19 and influenza is also recommended, with 167,000 people vaccinated against Covid-19 since September.

Investment group Penta bought ČSAD Praha Holding, including Florenc bus station and adjacent land, through its subsidiary Penta Real Estate. The Office for the Protection of Economic Competition is reviewing the acquisition, with a final decision expected within 20 days.

The transaction price has not been disclosed. Penta Investments is a Central European group with diverse interests, including real estate development, healthcare, and media. Its portfolio companies employ over 40,000 people. Last year, the group reported a net profit of CZK 11.6 billion.

The Czech police have accused four people and one company of neglect in connection with a cable car accident that occurred on Ještěd Mountain two years ago, resulting in the death of a conductor. On Oct. 31, 2021, a metal cable broke, causing a cabin with the conductor inside to fall from 30 meters above the ground.

The conductor died, while thirteen passengers and the conductor from the second cabin were evacuated. The oldest classic cableway, operated by České dráhy, has been out of service since the accident, and there is ongoing negotiation for its purchase by Liberec.

Czech President Petr Pavel affirmed the country's support for United Nations (UN) reforms, including changes within the UN Security Council. His statement followed Defense Minister Jana Černochová's call for the Czech Republic to exit the UN over its stance on the Gaza resolution. The UN General Assembly recently adopted a resolution advocating an immediate ceasefire and civilian protection in the Gaza Strip, which was opposed by the Czech Republic and a few other nations.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala expressed understanding for Černochová's concerns but confirmed the Czech Republic's commitment to the UN. Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský did not foresee any government deliberations regarding UN withdrawal. Various politicians from both the coalition and opposition echoed the sentiment that the Czech Republic should remain a UN member, notwithstanding reservations about its operations.

Senior opposition leader and former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has announced his candidacy to retain the chairmanship of the ANO movement at the February 2024 election congress. During an interview, Babiš did not confirm his intentions to become the prime minister again, stating that he will run for the movement's leadership, adding that it's essential for ANO to have other potential prime minister candidates, mentioning Karel Havlíček and Alena Schillerová.

Babiš, a controversial figure in Czech politics, previously ran for the presidency in January 2023 but was defeated by retired general Petr Pavel. He is known for his leadership of the government from 2017 to 2021 and has faced scrutiny in the Čapí hnízdo (Stork Nest) case, which involves suspected EU subsidy fraud and a conflict of interest.

The Czech Republic is expected to have a predominantly cloudy week with intermittent showers, particularly in the latter half, accompanied by strong winds. Daily highs are projected to reach around 15 degrees Celsius, with occasional spikes above 20 degrees. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute forecasts today's peak temperatures at up to 23 degrees Celsius. While warmer than average, it is not expected to break October records. Occasional rain is anticipated in the southern and western regions, with winds intensifying in the evening, potentially reaching speeds of up to 90 km/h in higher areas.

Similar windy conditions are predicted for Tuesday, with slightly cooler temperatures. Expect continued rainfall throughout the week and gusty winds of up to 90 km/h in mountainous regions. Thursday and Friday are expected to have highs around 16 degrees Celsius. The weekend will also bring rain with temperatures remaining consistent.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala is scheduled to meet with Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blum to discuss the potential location of a battery factory for electric cars, often referred to as a "gigafactory," in Pilsen. Negotiations have been ongoing, and Fiala emphasized the need to reach a decision soon. Volkswagen has delayed its choice due to potential increased environmental investment support from the EU. The Czech Republic has been negotiating with Volkswagen for the use of the army airport area in Líny near Pilsen.

Fiala noted that the Czech government has incurred political and economic costs in preparing the area, and the time for a resolution is running out. Volkswagen is considering several locations, including Poland, Hungary, and Líny. The factory could employ up to 4,000 people and has faced opposition from local aeroclubs and residents. The government supports the investment and is prepared to spend nine billion crowns on key infrastructure in the area.

Czech citizens' satisfaction with the environment around their homes has seen a slight decline, with 79 percent assessing it positively, down five percentage points from the previous year, according to a recent CVVM survey. Despite this drop, residents still rate their local environment more favorably than the national situation, which saw a three-percentage-point decrease to 72 percent satisfaction. The survey asked about various aspects of the local environment.

The availability of nature near their residences received the highest satisfaction rate at 81 percent. Regional differences in satisfaction were noted, with Prague, Vysočina, and the Pilsen Region residents more content with the country's environment, while those living in certain towns expressed more dissatisfaction. The survey was conducted by the Centre for Public Opinion Research on a sample of 1,000 people over 15 between July 28 and Sept. 25.