Czech news in brief for January 1: Thursday's top afternoon headlines

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš pledged to unite a divided society and promote patriotism in a New Year’s address, saying his new coalition government will focus on economic growth, higher wages, and a “year of peace.” Babiš rejected warnings of war and said peace is not weakness. Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and SPD leader Tomio Okamura opposed the provision of weapons to Ukraine in his speech.

In his televised speech, President Petr Pavel struck a calmer tone, avoiding direct politics but warning he would monitor any threats to democracy, security, or Czechia’s Western alignment. Analysts said Pavel indirectly criticized the new populist-led government while urging social trust and civic engagement.

The first baby of the year in Czechia is a boy, Matyáš, born seven minutes after midnight at Pilsen University Hospital. He weighed 3.5 kilograms and is healthy, a hospital spokeswoman, Gabriela Levorová, said. Other newborns arrived across the country within the first hours, including boys Justin and Patrick and girls Anna, Marie, and Klaudie. Some regions reward first babies with cash and gold gifts. Czech birth rates have declined for four consecutive years.

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka offered condolences after a deadly explosion and fire at a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, which authorities said killed dozens and seriously injured about 100 people. Macinka expressed sympathy to victims’ families and wished the injured a swift recovery, saying Czechia stood with Switzerland. Swiss police said some victims were foreigners, but no Czech nationals have sought consular help.

Czechia’s Temelín and Dukovany nuclear power plants produced a record 32.07 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity last year, enough to supply roughly half the country’s annual consumption, ČEZ CEO Daniel Beneš said. The output surpassed the previous record of 31 TWh in 2022, with nuclear sources now generating over 40 percent of domestic electricity. ČEZ is also preparing for the construction of two new Dukovany reactors, expected to be completed by 2036.

Czechia will hold municipal elections and vote for one-third of the Senate on Oct. 9–10, with a second round of Senate contests a week later, following a constitutional amendment. Several political parties, including ODS, ANO, the Pirates, and KDU-ČSL, plan to hold leadership elections this year. The polls come as the newly appointed Babiš coalition government operates under a provisional budget and finalizes cabinet positions, including the Ministry of Environment.