Czech news in brief for December 12: Friday's top afternoon headlines

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz congratulated Andrej Babiš on his appointment as Czech prime minister and highlighted the close ties between the two countries this afternoon. In his message, Merz called for addressing current challenges through cooperation and European unity. Babiš returns to head the government after less than four years, leading a coalition with the Motorists and the anti-immigration Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party. German media described Babiš as a right-wing populist.

Austria will extend border controls with Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia by six months, gradually covering a larger border area, Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said. The measures, introduced in October 2023 to curb illegal migration, will last at least until summer. Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner noted the number of soldiers assisting police may decrease if fewer migrants are detained. The government aims to make border security more efficient and flexible.

Nominated Finance Minister Alena Schillerová said the incoming government will discuss an excise tax on kratom, a psychomodulatory substance. Former anti-drug coordinator Jindřich Vobořil said such a tax could generate billions of crowns annually. Currently, kratom is sold by 50 licensed stores, with about 400 tonnes consumed each year. Schillerová plans to gather data and consult the Ministry of Health before discussing the issue with coalition partners. Licenses are valid for one year.

Research by market-data firm Slovo 21 and Charles University shows Czechs hold neutral to slightly negative views on migrants, though many see themselves as more open than society overall. Conservatives and nationalists tend to support restrictions, while liberals lean toward openness. People who trust traditional media have a more positive attitude towards immigrants and are in favor of a more open approach. The study found that people were least inclined to redistribute refugees around the EU.

Passengers on the Sněžka cable car will face a 10 percent fare increase starting Jan. 1, with the main season extended by two months, from May 1 to Oct. 31. School-group prices remain unchanged, Jiří Špětla, head of operations, said. A return ticket from Pec to Sněžka will rise to CZK 750 in the high season, up from CZK 680, while one-way tickets to Růžová Hora will be charged at CZK 270. Last year, 258,700 people took the cable car to Sněžka; it is one of the country's biggest tourist attractions.