Czech news in brief for February 16: Sunday's top headlines

The opposition ANO party remains the most popular Czech political party with 34.1 percent support, well ahead of the ruling Together coalition at 19 percent, according to a STEM poll for CNN Prima News. STAN follows with 11.1 percent. SPD (8.2 percent), Enough! (6.9 percent), and the Pirates (5.3 percent) would also enter parliament. The new Motorists party remains below the threshold at 4.2 percent. ANO is projected to secure 86 seats in the 200-seat lower house.

Behind-the-scenes negotiations are underway to prevent a trade war between the EU and the U.S., Czech Deputy PM Marian Jurečka said Sunday. Talks began after Donald Trump’s election and may include tariff hikes on key services. Trump has threatened new EU tariffs, recalling previous disputes. Analysts warn such measures could slow Czech GDP growth by over 1 percent. Jurečka sees room for a deal despite political tensions.

President Petr Pavel will decide Monday whether to sign a bill increasing salaries for public officials, he said on Czech Television today. The bill, which Parliament approved in January, would raise top politicians’ wages by nearly 7 percent this year, while judges' salaries would increase by less than 1 percent. The judiciary has urged a veto, calling the law unconstitutional. Pavel previously said the bill has changed significantly since December, when he was prepared to sign it.

A cold front from the Arctic will bring freezing temperatures to Czechia today, with night-time lows reaching minus 15 degrees Celsius, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. While daytime highs will hover just above freezing, overnight temperatures are expected to plummet. The forecasters issued a preliminary weather warning for the entire country due to the intense cold, which will continue through Wednesday. A slight chance of snow is also anticipated.

A 33-year-old man died following a police chase near Neratovice, Central Bohemia, on Saturday evening. Police attempted to stop the driver, and he fled at speeds of up to 100 km/h. The pursuit ended in Kralupy nad Vltavou, where officers used the PIT maneuver to halt the car. Despite no visible injuries, the man collapsed and died after paramedics arrived. He was wanted for avoiding a prison sentence and had several driving bans.

Czechia and Germany fully agree on the need to continue supporting Ukraine, regardless of Germany’s upcoming elections, President Petr Pavel said after meeting opposition leader Friedrich Merz in Munich. Merz, a strong Ukraine advocate, has criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz for slow aid. Pavel and Merz also discussed nuclear energy and infrastructure, with Pavel expressing optimism about future Czech-German cooperation.

Several dozen protesters gathered in Prague’s Old Town Square on Sunday to oppose the government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala and the newly introduced postal voting system for Czechs abroad. Organizers, including National Democracy, claimed the measure violates the constitution. Some demonstrators carried Czech flags and criticized the EU and Constitutional Court chairman Josef Baxa. Postal voting will be available for the first time in autumn’s parliamentary elections.

Czechs have donated several billion crowns to Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion, with most contributions made in the first year, humanitarian groups report. People in Need raised CZK 2.5 billion, while the Czech Red Cross collected CZK 329. Post Bellum, ADRA, and the Endowment for Ukraine also provided aid, ranging from medical supplies to weapons. Though donations have declined, organizations say Czech support remains strong.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at the Munich Security Conference on Thursday, discussing the war in Ukraine and bilateral relations. Lipavský emphasized the global consequences of Russia’s invasion, while Wang defended China’s stance. The ministers also addressed trade issues and Taiwan. Czech-Chinese ties remain strained over Taiwan and China’s indirect support for Russia’s military industry.

Pirate Party leader Zdeněk Hřib has the campaign skills to secure more than 10 percent in the autumn elections, former chairman Ivan Bartoš said at the party’s forum in Zlín. Bartoš, who may run in Ústí, Liberec, or Central Bohemia, praised Hřib’s shift to centrist politics. The Pirates will focus on education and housing, with candidate lists finalized by June. The party left the government last year but remains active in opposition.

The Greens are negotiating possible cooperation in this year's parliamentary elections with the Pirates, STAN, and Social Democrats (SOCDEM), co-chair Gabriela Svarovská said. Talks include program alignment and candidate placements. The Greens prioritize renewable energy, decarbonization, and EU engagement. Recent polls show the party below the 5% threshold needed to enter parliament, which they last achieved in 2006.