Czech news in brief for June 29: Sunday's top headlines

President Petr Pavel said he will not speculate on appointing Andrej Babiš as prime minister until a new verdict is issued in the Čapí hnízdo subsidy case. Speaking on CNN Prima News, Pavel noted that the retrial verdict should come before the elections. Babiš’s ANO party is currently leading in polls. Pavel reiterated that he would view any anti-NATO or anti-EU ministerial nominations as a potential national risk.

Leaders of opposition parties ANO and SPD said they won’t initiate another no-confidence vote against the government, unless new findings emerge in the bitcoin donation scandal. On Czech TV, ANO’s Karel Havlíček and SPD’s Radim Fiala called for more transparency, including a full timeline and documents. Former Justice Minister Pavel Blažek resigned over the cryptocurrency gift from a convicted criminal. A parliamentary inquiry commission remains under debate.

Government and opposition leaders agreed on supporting income tax exemptions for business share sales above CZK 40 million—if cryptocurrency is excluded. Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura said on Czech TV he’d reintroduce the bill after elections, omitting crypto. Lawmakers rejected a similar proposal Friday. Both ANO and SPD said excluding crypto is essential amid controversy over a bitcoin donation to the Justice Ministry from a convicted criminal.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has expanded its warning for high temperatures over 31 degrees Celsius. On Sunday, the warning covers most of South Moravia and Central Bohemia, as well as parts of the Plzeň and Ústí regions and the Česká Lípa area. The heat may persist into Monday and is expected to last through Thursday, with highs possibly exceeding 34 degrees Celsius. The risk of fire is also expected to increase due to dry conditions.

President Petr Pavel said the next Czech government should set no more than five clear spending priorities, with national security taking precedence. In a CNN Prima News debate, he warned that having too many goals means having none. He cited education, energy, and health care as other top areas, stressing that inefficiencies—not funding—are the main issue in health services. His remarks follow NATO’s call to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP.

Seven Czech players will compete in Monday’s opening round of Wimbledon, including 2023 champion Markéta Vondroušová, who faces No. 32 seed McCartney Kessler. Jiří Lehečka, seeded 23rd, meets Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien after reaching the Queen’s Club final. Linda Nosková plays Bernarda Pera, Kateřina Siniaková faces No. 5 Zheng Qinwen, and Marie Bouzková takes on Lulu Sun. Vít Kopřiva faces Australia’s Jordan Thompson.

Temperatures stayed above 20 degrees Celsius at nine Czech weather stations overnight, with Teplice recording the warmest at 21.6 degrees, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute said. Most areas saw lows between 13 and 19 degrees, while mountain stations dropped to around 10 degrees. A high of 32 degrees Celsius is expected today. The heatwave is forecast to continue, with extreme conditions affecting southern Europe.

Czech Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura said the 2026 state budget deficit may grow to CZK 280 billion, up from this year’s planned CZK 241 billion, citing higher defense spending and loans for the Dukovany nuclear project. Opposition ANO's Alena Schillerová called the increase a failure of fiscal policy. Despite the rise, Stanjura said the structural deficit should slightly fall relative to GDP next year.

Support for the government coalition Together remains at 21 percent despite the bitcoin donation scandal that led to Justice Minister Blažek’s resignation, a Kantar CZ poll shows. Opposition ANO leads with 33.5 percent, down one point. STAN and SPD each have 11.5 percent, while the Pirates gained one point to 7.5 percent. The Motorists party fell below the 5 percent threshold amid abuse allegations against MP Filip Turek.

The transfer of over 1,200 U.S. troops and 450 vehicles across Czechia from NATO's Saber Guardian 2025 exercise in Romania concludes this weekend, the Czech army said. Movements took place mainly at night to minimize traffic impact. Troops stayed at the Rancířov base near Jihlava, which provided logistical support. Czechia fulfills NATO host nation duties through its Logistics Agency, coordinating from Stará Boleslav.

Starting July 16, Liberec will ban drinking alcohol and camping at selected public areas, including parts of the city center and tourist sites like the Císařský kámen lookout. City officials say the measure aims to improve public order and reduce disturbances by groups loitering or sleeping outdoors. The ordinance gives police power to fine violators or remove them from problem locations.

Czech health authorities banned swimming at three reservoirs in Vysočina after tests found dangerously high levels of cyanobacteria and chlorophyll a. The closures affect Pilská (Žďár nad Sázavou), Sedlice (Pelhřimov), and Ředkovec (Havlíčkův Brod). Health officials warn of risks including rashes and gastrointestinal issues. Other monitored sites remain safe. Regular water monitoring occurs in two-week intervals, with more frequent checks at problematic locations.

A critically endangered northern white-cheeked gibbon was born at Liberec Zoo, the first in several years, the zoo announced Friday. The newborn is the third cub in 11 years and the first for its parents, who come from Liberec and the Netherlands. Gibbons face extinction in the wild due to deforestation, poaching, and use in traditional medicine.