Czech news in brief for May 27: Tuesday's top headlines

Dukovany II Power Plant has filed a motion with the Brno Regional Court to lift an injunction blocking a nuclear deal with South Korea’s KHNP. The contract, set for May 7, was halted after French firm EDF challenged the tender process. EDU II, managing the tender, says the court ruled without hearing all parties. A cassation complaint was filed earlier, and both EDU II and KHNP argue the project serves a vital public interest.

Czech legal experts told the Constitutional Court that the state is obligated to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the court said Tuesday. The opinions, requested in a climate lawsuit filed by the Climate Action Association, argued that Czechia lags behind European commitments. Meanwhile, four government ministries urged the court to dismiss the case. The court is reviewing whether the state must take stronger action to meet climate goals under domestic and international obligations.

The European Commission on Tuesday proposed EUR 114 million (CZK 2.83 billion) for the Czech Republic to aid recovery from last year’s floods. The funding is part of a multi-million EU Solidarity Fund package also covering Slovakia, Poland, Austria, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The proposal awaits approval from the European Parliament and Council. The Czech Republic, which applied in December, plans to use the aid for repairing public infrastructure and cleaning affected areas.

Czech immigration police detected 2,078 forged documents in 2024, a 39 percent increase from the previous year, officials told Prima TV Monday. Most forgeries involved passports, ID cards, and driving licenses. About 10 percent were high-quality fakes. Officers said airports are the main interception points for travel documents, while driving licenses are found inland. Other unusual forgeries included medical records, construction permits, and even horse vaccination papers, reflecting the broad misuse of counterfeit documents.

The Czech Constitutional Court has dismissed a complaint by a girl seeking voting rights before age 18, ruling it “manifestly unfounded.” The girl challenged electoral laws and sought to be added to voter rolls. The court emphasized that setting the voting age is the prerogative of parliament. It noted the 18-year threshold is standard internationally, despite exceptions like Austria, where voting begins at 16.

Former Arsenal midfielder and Sparta Prague sporting director Tomáš Rosický expects a full recovery after a heart-related issue last week. Hospitalized on Tuesday, Rosický underwent no surgery and was released to home care. He cited poor lifestyle habits and family predispositions for his condition. While unable to perform his sporting director duties currently, Rosický will stay involved in a consultative role as interim director Tomas Sivok steps in.

The Chamber of Deputies enters its final legislative phase Tuesday. Lawmakers will meet several times this week, including an extraordinary session. Thursday's agenda includes the unified employer report, migration and fireworks laws, and a vote on education funding reform. Final votes are expected on criminal code amendments, health care, employer retirement contributions, and plans for Křivoklátsko National Park.

The Czech Pirate Party kicked off its campaign for the October elections, focusing on affordable housing, tax cuts, modernization, and anti-corruption efforts. The party plans to spend CZK 50 million, aiming to build 50,000 new flats yearly and help 90% of families through tax reform. Experts from the Czech Republic and abroad are contributing to the campaign, led by former Prague mayor Zdeněk Hřib.

Prosecutors are seeking a 16-year prison sentence for 67-year-old Irena Stejskalová, accused of killing a sect leader with a dentist accomplice in 2022. The women admitted to the murder, claiming the man wished to die. Prosecutors allege Stejskalová acted consciously and held a senior position in the sect. The verdict is due June 10. The defense argues diminished sanity due to delusions.

A tram derailed and veered onto a sidewalk in the Ostrava-Vítkovice district early Tuesday after colliding with a passenger car, authorities said. The crash occurred shortly after 6 a.m. Emergency crews treated the car’s injured driver at the scene. Firefighters initially tried to re-rail the tram using a crane but later switched to a recovery vehicle. The incident disrupted traffic in the area.

The 2025 Prague Sounds festival will spotlight top female voices and electronic music from Nov. 1–19 at venues across the city. Opening at the Rudolfinum, Mexican artist Silvana Estrada will perform songs inspired by Día de los Muertos. Festival director Marek Vrabec said jazz-infused performances will also feature Grammy winners like Arooj Aftab, celebrating genre-crossing talent and international artistry.