Czech news in brief for December 27: Saturday's top morning headlines

Opposition lawmaker Petr Hladík has submitted a proposal to introduce deposit systems for plastic bottles and metal cans, along with take-back obligations for advertising leaflets. The bill, co-sponsored by Christian Democrat and Pirate-Green MPs, will be reviewed by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’ government. Supporters argue deposits would raise recycling rates and help meet EU targets. Czechia currently falls short of required collection levels for bottles and cans, according to the proposal’s authors.

About 4,000 liters of antifreeze coolant leaked Thursday at a Charles University medical campus under construction in Hradec Králové, firefighters said. The spill, caused by a technical pipe failure, affected roughly 2,500 square meters inside the building but did not reach the environment. Firefighters spent six hours pumping out the substance in protective gear. A specialist firm completed cleanup work, and no injuries were reported, according to emergency services.

Czech apple growers reported one of the strongest harvests in recent years, about 16 percent above the five-year average, industry experts said. Despite the higher yield, domestic production still covers less than half of consumption, requiring imports of up to 60,000 tons. Fruit Growers’ Union representatives say long-term problems persist, including weak domestic sales and orchard losses following past frosts, with orchard area down about 40 percent over a decade.

Former President Miloš Zeman criticized the previous government of Petr Fiala as amateurish in a Christmas television address, while wishing professionalism to the new cabinet led by Andrej Babiš. Zeman said poor handling of energy prices, housing and deficits led to electoral defeat. He also defended past refusals to appoint ministers and mocked critics now praising President Petr Pavel for similar actions. Zeman said ministers should have professional expertise in their portfolios.

Czech Finance Minister Alena Schillerová said the planned CZK 241 billion state budget deficit will likely be missed, with the shortfall nearing CZK 275 billion. Although November’s deficit was the lowest in six years, critics say the budget underestimated some expenditures and overestimated revenues. The Supreme Audit Office warned that debt and debt-servicing costs continue to rise despite partial fiscal consolidation.