Czech news in brief for July 2: Thursday's top morning headlines

This morning we take a break from the ongoing battle between the Czech president and prime minister over representation at the upcoming NATO summit, to see how the public really feels about its leaders. The numbers are less than encouraging, reports a new STEM survey, with commentors pointing to political fatigue.

Russia has launched a deadly missile attack on Kyiv overnight; in related news Czech defense minister vowed to continue arming Ukraine. A new map of spots to refresh, drink, and cool off has launched in Prague. Just don't let your translator software send you astray: A few key terms look a little funny when translated to English.

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Satisfaction with Andrej Babiš's ANO–SPD–Motorists government has declined steadily since January, according to a STEM survey of 1,352 respondents conducted June 16–21 for CNN Prima News. Dissatisfaction now outpaces satisfaction by 12 percentage points, up from a roughly even split at the start of the year, driven mainly by a collapse in strongly positive views; those "very satisfied" dropped from 13 percent to six percent. Support holds firm among the coalition's own voters, with nearly two-thirds of ANO voters satisfied.

Why it matters: STEM analyst Martin Kratochvíl noted that even opposition voters aren't especially happy with their own parties' performance, a sign the disaffection may be more about political fatigue generally than a swing toward any bloc. The survey predates this week's NATO delegation dispute, which could move numbers further by the next reading.

Jaromír Zůna told Euractiv the Czech-led ammunition initiative, which delivered 1.8 million artillery rounds last year and is on track for one million this year, will continue "as long as it is necessary" and backed by international partners. He also confirmed Prague is proceeding with 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks and 24 F-35s, with F-35 delivery set by 2031.

In addition: Zůna said the government has no plans to reintroduce conscription, abolished in 2004, and is instead focused on recruitment and retention to grow the armed forces from roughly 30,500 to a target of 37,000 personnel under the 2040 development plan.

A 39-year-old man was arrested last week after a three-month investigation led police to a house in Prague's Březiněves, where they seized 750 grams of Semtex plastic explosive, four silenced or semi-automatic pistols, a rifle, ammunition, smoke bombs and detonators.

What's next: Police have not yet determined whether the weapons were used in past crimes or what the suspect intended to do with them; illegal weapons possession carries up to five years in prison.

The bloc generated 45.5 percent of its electricity from renewable sources in the first quarter of 2026, per Eurostat, up from 42.7 percent a year earlier. Czechia sat at the bottom of the table at 12.7 percent, behind Malta's 13 percent and Slovakia's 17.2 percent, while Denmark led at 90 percent.

A persistent gap: Wind power drove most of the EU-wide gain, now 44.9 percent of renewable generation bloc-wide; a category where Czechia has comparatively little installed capacity, which helps explain the persistent gap.

Prague hygienists recorded 459 scabies cases in the first half of 2026, already two-thirds of last year's full-year total of 691. Officials say transmission requires prolonged skin-to-skin contact or contact with infected textiles hostels, social facilities and low-standard hotels are the real risk points, not handrails or seats on trams and metro.

Important: Anyone with persistent itching that worsens at night, or a rash between the fingers or on the wrists, should see a doctor promptly; treatment is outpatient and typically takes several days, with household members treated preventively.

City Hall, IPR Prague and Operátor ICT have unveiled an online map pinpointing free drinking fountains, misting stations, natural springs, and swimming and recreational spots across the city, part of Prague's broader climate adaptation strategy. The map is live at oazychladu.mojepraha.eu, with plans to add air-conditioned public buildings (libraries, offices, galleries) and live temperature data from the city's microclimate monitoring network as the project expands.

Note: The map itself is Czech-only, and browser translation tools tend render key terms pítka (drinking fountains) and mlžítka (misting stations) as unrelated words: "mistletoe" and "spree" respectively.

Registered partnerships turn 20, still no marriage. Czechia became one of the first post-communist countries to recognize same-sex unions in 2006; a 2025 reform brought joint property and stepchild adoption, but the country has slipped to 30th in Europe's ILGA rainbow index, down from 12th in 2012.

SPD's leader's 'castle' loses 24/7 guard. The Protective Service ended continuous patrol outside SPD leader Tomio Okamura's Břevnov villa, the so-called Takeshi Castle, citing a revised risk assessment, though AI-equipped security cameras remain in place.

Giant spring roll celebrates Vietnamese community Eight culinary artisans from Vietnam hand-rolled a record-breaking 10-meter spring roll (gỏi cuốn) at the Phở Cultural Roadshow Europe event on June 28, drawing hundreds of visitors and members of Czechia's Vietnamese community to sample the dish.