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Summary for: Czech news in brief for April 12: Sunday's top afternoon headlines
Czech MFA distances itself from Pavel remarks
Czech MFA distances itself from Pavel remarks
The Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed regret over President Petr Pavel’s comments comparing U.S. President Donald Trump’s impact on NATO unfavorably with that of Vladimir Putin. The ministry stressed that the remarks do not reflect the government’s official position and reaffirmed strong Czech-U.S. relations and NATO commitment. Pavel made the comments in a podcast discussion on alliance credibility, prompting a diplomatic clarification amid ongoing political tensions at home.
Turek links row with president to minister veto
Motorists politician Filip Turek has said that Foreign Minister Petr Macinka’s opposition to President Petr Pavel attending the upcoming NATO summit is linked to Pavel’s refusal to appoint him as a minister. Turek rejected claims of revenge but acknowledged a connection between the issues. The dispute follows tensions over government appointments and the president’s role in foreign policy, with officials also divided over Czech representation at the July NATO summit.
ANO leads Czech polls with 34 percent support
The ANO party would win Czech parliamentary elections with 34 percent of the vote, according to a new Kantar poll for Czech Television. STAN and ODS follow with around 15 percent each, while Pirates and SPD would also enter parliament. The Motorists party is projected to narrowly pass the 5 percent threshold. Support levels have remained stable in recent weeks, with estimated voter turnout at about 62.5 percent.
Sparta hockey team fined for referee criticism
Hockey club Sparta Prague has been fined a total of CZK 110,000 after coach Jaroslav Nedvěd criticized referees following a playoff loss to Pardubice. League officials said Nedvěd violated rules by commenting on officiating on game day and damaged the competition’s reputation. The remarks followed Sparta’s 4–3 overtime defeat in the semifinal series. The league stressed the importance of protecting referee integrity amid rising playoff tensions.
Older flats in Czechia up 15 percent year-on-year
Prices of older apartments in Czechia rose 15 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, reaching an average of CZK 83,333 per square meter, according to FérMakléři.cz. Growth was recorded across all major cities, with Prague remaining the most expensive at over CZK 155,000 per square meter. Analysts say demand is shifting toward more affordable regions, where prices are rising fastest. The trend is driven by limited supply and strong demand for housing.
Poll results: Lower House Speaker Tomio Okamura has called for Czechia to resume imports of Russian oil and gas, arguing it could help reduce energy prices. We asked readers whether they agree with the proposal. An overwhelming 80 percent opposed the idea, citing security and independence concerns, while 19 percent supported it as a way to lower energy costs.
