Reading time: 2 minutes 
Summary for: Czech news in brief for December 6: Saturday's top morning headlines
Architect behind Prague's Dancing House dies
1️⃣ Architect behind Prague's Dancing House dies
American architect Frank Gehry, co-creator of Prague’s Dancing House, has died at 96 in Santa Monica, California, following a short respiratory illness, the New York Times reported. Gehry, a Pritzker Prize winner, was celebrated for landmark works including Bilbao’s Guggenheim Museum and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The Dancing House, built in 1996 with Vlado Milunić, remains a Prague architectural icon.
PARTNER ARTICLE
2️⃣ TI questions Babiš’s conflict-of-interest plan
Transparency International says concerns remain over incoming prime minister Andrej Babiš’s plan to resolve his conflict of interest involving Agrofert. TI says Babiš must clarify where his proposed trust structure will be based and how it will operate, warning of risks to EU funding. The group argues he should either sell Agrofert or halt its access to public money to avoid renewed scrutiny.
3️⃣ Czech NGO worker freed in Burkina Faso
Eight INSO workers, including a Czech citizen, were released in Burkina Faso in late October after months in custody on espionage accusations, AFP reported. Czech diplomacy confirmed it handled the consular case but gave no details. The NGO, banned by the junta in July, denies spying. Authorities had detained staff of multiple nationalities amid rising pressure on civil society.
4️⃣ Suspect in Prague knife attack returned to Czechia
A foreign national accused of attempted murder and convicted of major drug offences is back in Czechia after police collected him in Prague following his arrest in Croatia, the NPC said. Detectives say he led a multinational drug network and later stabbed a man in central Prague while out on bail. He was sentenced in absentia to 12 years before fleeing to Croatia.
5️⃣ Government to discuss new budget-spending rules
The Czech government will review a bill changing how state budget spending limits are set, moving from maximum structural deficits to a net-expenditure measure in line with EU rules. The law aims to ensure medium-term fiscal sustainability and requires corrective action if debt exceeds 60 percent of GDP or deficits surpass 3 percent. The Finance Ministry proposes the law take effect immediately after publication.
📊 POLL RESULTS: Following President Petr Pavel’s announcement that Andrej Babiš will be formally appointed Czech PM on Dec. 9, we asked readers how they feel about the development. Most respondents, 75 percent, expressed concern about the path ahead, 22 percent said they are hopeful, and 3 percent felt the next government would not affect them. You can still vote here.
