Czech news in brief for July 19: Sunday's top morning headlines

This morning, President Petr Pavel says he will wait until next year to reveal whether he will seek a second term, as political debate over the 2028 election begins to build. And a major weather shift is on the way for the coming week, with a cold front set to bring cooler temperatures and more rain after weeks of summer heat. Good morning, here’s your curated look at this morning’s news.

President Petr Pavel says he will announce next year whether he plans to seek a second term in Czechia’s 2028 presidential election. Speaking at the Colours of Ostrava festival, Pavel said it was too early to make a decision and that he wanted to avoid an extended election campaign.

Political response: Pavel rejected claims by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš that he has already begun campaigning, accusing his political opponents of trying to discourage him from running. Babiš has said he will not challenge Pavel again in the next presidential election.

The Interior Ministry’s latest annual report on extremism in Czechia reportedly does not mention the SPD movement, which has appeared in previous editions, according to Seznam Zprávy. Two ministry officials involved in preparing the report are also leaving their posts, though the ministry denies their departures are linked to political pressure.

Ministry response: Interior Minister Lubomír Metnar rejected reports of interference and said the information was misleading. The government is expected to discuss the final version of the extremism report on Monday.

One worker has died after a carbon monoxide poisoning incident at a former brewery site in Olomouc in late June. Seven workers were affected while carrying out demolition work, with two initially left in critical condition. Police are investigating the case but have not yet released further details.

Investigation ongoing: Authorities said the carbon monoxide leak was linked to a power pump used during the demolition work. Police have not disclosed whether anyone faces criminal charges while the investigation continues.

Ostrava Zoo has welcomed its first Rothschild’s giraffe calf in 11 years after a breeding group was renewed. The male calf was born on July 7 and is currently staying with his mother in the African Animals pavilion while gradually getting used to the outdoor area.

Zoo update: The calf is healthy and developing well, according to keepers. The birth followed the arrival of a new male from Liberec Zoo in 2025 after previous attempts to restart breeding were unsuccessful.

A flow of cold air from northern regions will bring a sharp temperature drop across much of Europe, including Czechia, over the coming week. After recent summer heat, temperatures in the country are expected to fall to around 20 degrees Celsius during the day, with cooler nights and more rainfall.

Weather outlook: Meteorologists say parts of central, eastern, and southeastern Europe could see temperatures up to 10 degrees Celsius below average. While much of Europe cools, southwestern areas including Spain and Portugal face another heat wave.