Czech news in brief for February 17: Monday's top headlines

Food prices in Czechia fell in February compared to January and December 2024, with nine of 13 monitored items seeing declines, according to the Czech Statistical Office. Butter and wheat flour saw the biggest drops, each down 3.15 percent. However, prices remain higher than last year, with butter up 40 percent and eggs up by one-third. The price of a kilogram of plain wheat flour decreased at the same rate month-on-month, now costing CZK 17.86.

 Czech politicians consider discussions on deploying troops to Ukraine premature, with no clear ceasefire in place. Deputy Speaker Jan Bartošek supports involvement if part of a European mission, while the opposition Freedom and Direct Democracy party rejects it. Other European nations, including the UK and Germany, have signaled readiness for peacekeeping roles. Officials stress that any decision would depend on defined security guarantees and international agreements.

Post Malone will perform for the first time in the Czech Republic as part of his The Big Ass World Tour. The concert will take place on Aug. 12 at Letňany Airport in Prague, marking the beginning of the European leg of the tour. Ticket prices start at CZK 1,690, with VIP packages also available. A Mastercard pre-sale will begin on Feb. 19 at midday. Pre-sale access for Live Nation Club members and Fan Club members will be available from Feb. 20. General ticket sales will commence on Feb. 21 through the Ticketmaster and Ticketportal networks.

Russia remained the largest oil supplier to the Czech Republic in 2024, accounting for 42 percent of total imports, though this marked a large decline from the previous year. The use of the Druzhba pipeline also decreased. In contrast, oil imports from Azerbaijan increased, with its share now closely following Russia's. Overall, the Czech Republic imported over 6.5 million tons of oil, a 12 percent decrease compared to the previous year, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Czech Statistical Office.

Czech President Petr Pavel vetoed an amendment today that would have raised the salaries of top politicians by nearly 7 percent while freezing judges' and prosecutors' pay. Pavel criticized the amendment's handling of a Constitutional Court ruling and its retroactive nature. The veto sends the issue back to the Chamber of Deputies, which can override it with coalition support. Pavel dismissed both the government’s proposal and opposition calls to freeze salaries.

The Czech Republic is experiencing severe night frosts, with temperatures dropping to minus 15°C and as low as minus 25°C in mountain areas, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. Daytime highs remain near freezing, but a warming trend will begin Thursday. By the weekend, temperatures could reach 6°C, rising to 9°C early next week. Skies will remain mostly clear with occasional cloudiness.

During an interview on Czech Television this weekend, Czech Chief of General Staff Karel Řehka said that even after the potential end of the war in Ukraine, Russia will remain unpredictable and not friendlier towards the Czech Republic. He emphasized the need for increased military capacities, noting that the proposed rise in professional soldiers to 37,500 requires further analysis due to demographic challenges. Řehka also suggested considering a new model for the army’s structure.

Czech banks and building societies issued CZK 22.6 billion crowns in mortgages in January 2025, a 5 percent decrease from December. New loans (excluding refinancing) dropped to CZK18.7 billion crowns. Interest rates slightly decreased from 4.8 percent to 4.78 percent. The average mortgage granted rose to CZK 3.92 million, driven by new construction. In 2024, the mortgage market grew 83 percent year-on-year, reaching CZK 275 billion, including refinanced loans.

Dozens gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Prague to honor Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on the first anniversary of his death in a Siberian penal colony. Organized by Russians in Czechia for Democracy, the event featured Navalny’s speeches, flowers, and candles. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, blames Vladimir Putin for his death. The Czech Foreign Ministry joined 17 countries in condemning Russia’s crackdown on dissent.

Hundreds gathered outside the Archbishop's Palace in Prague to protest church sexual abuse and demand the resignation of Archbishop Jan Graubner. Organized by the Initiative for a Pure Church, the demonstration also opposed the Vatican Treaty and the dismissal of priest Marek Orko Vácha. Protesters placed children’s shoes on a palace window as a symbol of victims. The Czech Bishops’ Conference recently announced new measures to address abuse.