News in brief for Oct. 13: Top headlines for Czechia on Friday

A new poll conducted by the Center for Public Opinion Research reveals that trust in the Czech government remains low, with only 25 percent of people expressing trust in the cabinet of Prime Minister Petr Fiala. Confidence in President Petr Pavel stands at 58 percent, the same as in the previous summer survey. 

Mayors and municipal councils enjoy the highest level of trust among constitutional institutions, while the House of Representatives is the least trusted, with only 23 percent of Czech citizens expressing trust in it. The poll also indicates that trust in the government has dropped significantly in recent months, while trust in the president has remained stable. Satisfaction with the political situation is also low, with only 12 percent of respondents expressing satisfaction.

The Czech Foreign Ministry plans to help the remaining Czech citizens in Israel return home by arranging repatriation flights from other countries, according to Martin Smolek, the senior director of the ministry's legal and consular section. Six repatriation flights have already brought back 228 people and one dog who were stranded in Israel after the recent terrorist attacks. Some Israelis have also traveled in the opposite direction.

Those who have been in Israel for a long time have been repatriated, while those staying for a shorter period have mostly managed to return on commercial flights. Other countries like Slovakia, Britain, and Germany will also send repatriation planes. However, limited options for departure from Tel Aviv remain, including a boat trip to Cyprus or departures from Eilat, which is deemed unsafe due to its proximity to the Gaza Strip.

The Prague Municipal Court has fined Ladislav Vrabel, the organizer of anti-government protests in 2022, CZK 10,000 for spreading fear-inducing and false messages. The Czech Court of Appeals upheld the initial verdict, stating that Vrabel's claims about the Czech Republic planning to use nuclear weapons against Russia and subsequent Russian retaliation could cause anxiety in society. 

However, the court has overturned the original four-month suspended sentence and 18 months of probation. Vrabel plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, claiming he is being punished for criticizing the government, and refuses to accept the financial penalty.

The Czech government coalition has successfully passed a consolidation package in the lower house, anticipating a CZK 150 billion improvement in the state budget over the next two years. The package introduces two VAT rates (12 percent and 21 percent), consolidating three previous rates, with lower rates for food and higher rates for certain services and draught beer.

Corporate tax will increase from 19 percent to 21 percent, property tax will rise by an average of 1.8 times, and excise duty on alcohol will increase by 10 percent over the next two years. The package requires Senate approval and the president's signature, with most changes slated for implementation next year.

René Matera, founder of Promet Group and co-owner of Tatra Trucks, passed away at the age of 60 after battling a serious illness. Matera was ranked 46th among the 100 richest Czechs by Forbes magazine, with assets worth CZK 11.6 billion.

Promet Group, along with Czechoslovak Group and CE Industries, is a key player in the fields of mechanical engineering, metallurgy, and engineering in Central Europe. The group also has stakes in Tatra Trucks and Croatian railcar manufacturer Djuro Djaković. Last year, Matera handed over the management of the group to his wife and children.

Representatives of Czech cinemas have called on Prime Minister Petr Fiala and his cabinet to seek the enactment of marriage for all couples, including same-sex ones. In an open letter, signed by 44 representatives of 31 cinemas, they emphasized the need to eliminate discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and families with children.

The call for equal marriage rights follows similar appeals by theatres and aims to show solidarity and reject division within the Czech population. The letter also addresses the need to confront hateful rhetoric directed at the LGBTQ+ community and emphasizes the cinemas' commitment to inclusivity.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) issued a warning for strong winds with gusts up to 70 km/h in the western half of the country tomorrow. This will happen as a significant cold front crosses the Czech Republic on Saturday, bringing an end to the warm October weather. The warning is in effect for Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Bohemia, with the exception of the northwest and the Vysočina Region

Ground frosts are also expected on Monday night. Temperatures on Saturday will range from 17 to 22 degrees Celsius, with the southeast reaching up to 25 degrees. Rain and occasional storms are forecasted.

Czech President Petr Pavel is set to visit Israel in January 2024, according to Czech Ambassador to Tel Aviv Veronika Kuchynova Smigolova. The announcement comes after the cancellation of planned visits by parliament representatives due to the situation in Israel following terrorist attacks by Palestinian militants.

Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský was the first foreign statesman to visit Israel since the attacks. The death toll from the Hamas attack, according to Israel's public broadcaster Kan, has risen to at least 1,300, with Israeli retaliatory actions causing more casualties, including over 1,400 deaths and 6,200 injuries, as reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry.

Two aircraft with 66 passengers evacuating Czech citizens from Israel landed in Prague in the early hours of Friday morning. These repatriation flights, organized by the Czech government, aim to bring back those stranded in Israel following terrorist attacks by Palestinian militants.

In total, 180 people have returned home on five repatriation flights, with one more flight planned. The Czech Foreign Ministry pledged to assist all citizens who requested repatriation through the Czech embassy in Tel Aviv. Additionally, one of the planes returning to Israel will carry Israeli citizens returning for humanitarian, family, or military reasons.

Prague's Bulovka University Hospital temporarily ceased admitting critical condition patients due to disputes between the hospital management and certain doctors, reports Deník N. Instead, medical emergency services had to redirect such patients to other Prague hospitals. Some anesthesiology, resuscitation, and emergency room doctors at Bulovka had suspended overtime work since October, with protests ongoing since mid-August following the dismissal of the current mayor and communication issues.

However, hospital officials clarified that income was unaffected, and they were accepting regular patients from paramedics without restrictions. The Ministry of Health, as the hospital's founder, is involved, and the hospital management seeks professional mediators to address the situation.

The Czech Ministry of Education is set to shorten the deadline for submitting applications for secondary school entrance exams, moving it from March 1 to Feb. 20, beginning in 2024. This change is part of a broader effort to digitize the admissions process for secondary schools, aiming to streamline and modernize the system. The proposal also suggests expanding the number of possible applications from two to three and introducing a more flexible way for students to prioritize their preferred fields of study or schools.

Additionally, candidates will be allowed to take the exam twice, choosing from their selected schools. These adjustments come in response to complications and inefficiencies in the existing admission process and aim to provide more clarity and convenience for students seeking entry to secondary schools.

Slovakia's LGBTQ+ community advocates have reported that politicians have not addressed any of their demands for improving the community's life and status one year after a homophobic attack outside a gay bar in Bratislava left two people dead. The incident was described as a terrorist attack by the police. Civic initiatives called for measures like a law on registered partnerships and the ability for same-sex couples to adopt children.

Slovakia has yet to codify registered partnerships for same-sex couples, unlike neighboring Czech Republic. Advocates argue that the situation has worsened, with an increase in hate speech and threats against LGBTQ+ individuals. They believe the issue has been exploited for political division. The club owner of the Teplaren gay bar announced its closure at the end of November.

Czech President Petr Pavel marked the 102nd anniversary of the first battle flag presentation by President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk by attending a Prague Castle Guard parade. The event included a reenactment featuring a Masaryk impersonator, Castle Guard units, and military history clubs in period uniforms.

The Castle Guard, a unit within the Czech armed forces, is responsible for securing Prague Castle, the presidential summer residence at Lany Manor, and participating in presidential ceremonial and protocol activities. Comprising 936 personnel, including officers, warrant officers, noncommissioned officers, and civilian employees, the Guard plays a vital role in the country's security.