Czech news in brief for May 28: Thursday's top morning headlines

Good morning, Elizabeth here with your daily briefing, mixed to perfection for your reading pleasure. Lawmakers have moved ahead with pension decisions while the Building Act, for the time being, rests on shaky foundations. If you are looking for weekend plans, a new Prague villa will be open for free.

Czech lawmakers approved legislation allowing pensioners who opened pension savings accounts before 2023 to withdraw funds without penalties, affecting about 150,000 people, officials said Wednesday. Deputies additionally debated controversial amendments to the Building Act before discussions were suspended because of low attendance.

What does this mean? In practical terms, pensioners who no longer see value in continuing pension savings plans can access their money without financial punishment. The government says the measure is intended to restore trust in the pension savings system.

The Czech National Committee of the International Press Institute condemned repeated attacks by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš against journalists and media outlets, calling the behavior unacceptable and harmful to democratic principles. The committee said insults and accusations directed at outlets including Seznam Zprávy and Novinky could undermine press freedom and public trust. Media experts warned such rhetoric risks encouraging hostility toward journalists. A recent survey found more than one-third of Czech journalists face attacks at least monthly.

Bread experts gathered in Pardubice to judge 143 loaves in the country’s annual Bread Days competition, where artisanal breads dominated entries and highlighted growing consumer demand for quality baked goods. Judges evaluated crust, aroma, crumb texture and elasticity while bakery logos were removed to ensure anonymity. Organizers said breads featuring ingredients such as nuts, onions, turmeric and beetroot reflected changing trends. Bakers also warned rising fuel, energy and labor costs continue pressuring the industry despite stable prices.

Sunny and dry weather is expected across the Czech Republic through Friday before showers and thunderstorms arrive over the weekend, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute said Thursday. Temperatures will mostly stay below 25 degrees Celsius before climbing as high as 28 degrees in coming days. Meteorologists forecast increasing cloud cover and scattered storms over the weekend, with daytime highs between 23 and 28 degrees. Slight cooling is expected Monday, while isolated areas could approach 30 degrees by Tuesday.

The Rothmayer Villa in Prague’s Břevnov and Střešovice districts has opened to visitors free of charge during guided tour hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends, museum officials said. Architect and designer Otto Rothmayer, a student of Jože Plečnik, built the home in 1929 based on Plečnik’s design. Rothmayer helped shape parts of Prague Castle and Lány Chateau for President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. The villa is known for its terrace, cylindrical staircase and minimalist interior.