Czech news in brief for May 16: Saturday's top morning headlines

Part of the Senate’s human rights committee criticized the Chamber of Deputies’ resolution opposing the upcoming Sudeten German congress in Brno, calling it “shameful.” Five senators expressed support for the Meeting Brno festival, which invited the event to Czechia for the first time. The congress will take place May 22–25 amid renewed debate over Czech-German reconciliation and the postwar expulsion of Sudeten Germans from former Czechoslovakia.

Czech President Petr Pavel will attend a ceremony Sunday at the Terezín Memorial honoring victims of Nazi persecution during World War II. The annual event marks the 81st anniversary of the camp’s liberation and will include speeches, prayers, and wreath-laying at the National Cemetery. Pavel will also visit the Centre for Genocide Studies in Terezín, where around 155,000 Jews were imprisoned during the Holocaust.

Culture Minister Oto Klempíř said he will soon submit a Regulatory Impact Analysis for a proposed public media law that would replace Czech TV and radio license fees with state budget funding. Czech Television and Czech Radio oppose the plan, warning it could reduce their budgets by CZK 1.4 billion next year and weaken editorial independence. Employees at both public broadcasters have declared strike alert over the proposed changes.

The final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Vienna today, with Czech singer Daniel Žižka among 25 finalists performing his song Crossroads. The winner will be decided by a combination of public voting and professional juries. This year’s contest has been marked by political tensions, including boycotts from several countries over Israel’s participation and a protest planned in Vienna.

Czech Archbishop Stanislav Přibyl said the theft of Saint Zdislava’s skull from a basilica in Jablonné v Podještědí was unacceptable, though spiritually forgivable. Police detained a 35-year-old suspect who allegedly encased the relic in concrete after stealing it Tuesday. Church officials said the case highlights the challenge of securing religious sites while keeping churches open to the public. The suspect faces up to eight years in prison.