Czech news in brief for March 9: Monday's top morning headlines

President Petr Pavel said he would seriously consider running for a second five-year term in 2028 if he maintains public support and his health is good. Speaking in an interview with Czech Television, Pavel, 64, noted no prominent challengers have yet emerged and emphasized he does not want to delay his decision until the final weeks before the election. Current polls show majority citizen confidence in him.

Around 100 people, including families, marched through Prague on Sunday to revive the Slavic folk ritual of drowning Morana, a winter effigy, with a political twist. Rebranded “Motorana,” the puppet criticized the coalition government of ANO, SPD, and the Motorists, protesting cultural budget cuts and changes to public media funding. The procession, organized by FÓR_UM, ended with the effigy’s burning and casting into the Vltava River.

The Czech bookseller Levné knihy filed for insolvency, reporting debts of roughly CZK 133 million, citing pandemic-related losses and inflation following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Municipal Court in Prague has opened proceedings. The company owes CZK 103.3 million to unsecured creditors and 29.8 million to Česká spořitelna. Business partner Knihobot has ended cooperation, and the chain’s 49 stores continue to operate under court supervision.

The Czech Republic will see a mostly cloudy week with occasional rain, though temperatures will remain spring-like, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (ČHMÚ) said. Daytime highs are expected between 12 and 17 degrees Celsius, with overnight lows from two to seven degrees. Isolated showers may occur Tuesday night, and thunderstorms are possible in some areas, while daily temperatures are likely to stay between 11 and 16 degrees.

Brain Week 2026, organized by the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic from March 9–15, begins today. It will focus on understanding how the human brain functions and its impact on daily life. The event offers lectures, discussions, and interactive demonstrations for adults, children, and students, including activities on memory, senses, and cognition. Special educational programs are planned for schools, making the week both informative and engaging.