Czech news in brief for December 22: Monday's top morning headlines

President Petr Pavel will meet MP Filip Turek of the Motorists party at Prague Castle on Monday, as the party pushes for his appointment as Minister of the Environment. Pavel has expressed long-standing reservations over Turek’s past controversial posts and conduct, which included sharing racist and homophobic content on social media. The meeting comes a week after Pavel appointed a new ANO-SPD-Motorists cabinet, with the Motorists’ leadership urging full staffing before the Jan. 13 confidence vote.

In the event of armed conflict, Czechia would mobilize its military gradually, prioritizing active reserves and former soldiers under 60, before drafting civilians without military experience, reports Novinky.cz. Recruits would first complete six-week basic training in support roles, while conscientious objectors could serve in medical or logistical positions. A survey by NMS for Czech Radio found 53 percent of Czechs support introducing administrative conscription, for citizens aged 18–60; 80 percent say they would not volunteer.

Children across Czechia start their Christmas holidays on Monday, returning to school on Jan. 5. Families can enjoy castle tours, the second annual Nativity Scene Night, Christmas markets, public ice rinks, and reduced admission to the zoo during the break. Prague will host a Free Sports Week from Dec. 25–31 with free admission at select sports venues. Mid-year holidays are scheduled for Jan. 30, followed by spring break in mid-March.

Snow showers are forecast across Czechia on Christmas Day, especially in the southern half and mountainous regions, with up to 10 cm of snow possible in the Pošumaví and Jeseníky regions, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. Remaining holiday days will be sunnier but cold, with night lows around −5 °C and daytime highs near −2 °C. Earlier in the week, overcast skies with drizzle or light rain may occur, transitioning to snow on Tuesday evening, accompanied by gusty northeast winds of up to 55 km/h.

The National Gallery Prague spent CZK 21 million on artwork acquisitions in 2025, double last year’s 10.8 million, largely funded by the Culture Ministry. Purchases focused on contemporary post-1980 artists, while a set of 16 paintings by 19th-century Josef Navratil cost CZK four million. The gallery added 20 new post-1945 artists.

In 2026, the NGP will celebrate 230 years since the founding of its predecessor, the Society of Patriotic Friends of Art, on Feb. 5, with performances and events across the Trade Fair Palace, including exhibitions The End of the Black and White Age and Architecture for All.

The gallery will also participate in the Czech and Slovak presentation at the Venice Biennale and host autumn exhibitions on 16th-century Queen Anna Jagellonica in the Wallenstein Riding Hall and surrealism in Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic at the Trade Fair Palace.