Czech news in brief for May 3: Saturday's top headlines

Severe thunderstorms hit northern and eastern Czechia on Saturday afternoon, with hail up to 2 cm and wind gusts around 70 km/h, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute reported. Storms began forming in the Ústí, Central Bohemian, and Liberec regions and are expected to weaken overnight in the east. The highest temperatures reached 28 degrees Celsius in South Moravia, with isolated areas nearing 30 degrees.

Despite droughts and changing agricultural conditions, experts say climate change is unlikely to force people in Czechia to relocate. Thanks to its geography and infrastructure, the country is not at risk of large-scale climate migration, according to researchers contacted by Czech News Agency. While challenges like reduced water availability and shifts in farming persist, the pace of change remains manageable, with migration driven more by jobs, health, and family than by environmental pressures.

At 99, American WWII veteran Harry Humason returned to Czechia for the first time since 1945, joining the Liberation Festival in Pilsen. Humason, who helped liberate southwestern Bohemia with the U.S. 5th Infantry Division, said, “No one wins in war, everyone loses.” He expressed joy at seeing rebuilt cities and recalled vivid wartime memories, including narrowly avoiding a final battle just before the war's end.

Since granting five pardons in March, President Petr Pavel has received 168 new pardon requests, according to spokesperson Vojtěch Šeliga. No additional pardons have been issued. Pavel has used the power only twice since taking office, contrasting with predecessors like Václav Havel, who issued over 1,200 pardons. The Castle is also reviewing past requests, including a high-profile case involving Czech soldiers charged over a detainee’s death in Afghanistan.

The Czech government is expected to take a neutral stance on a proposed amendment to the lower house’s rules aimed at limiting obstruction tactics and increasing parliamentary efficiency. Submitted by ODS MPs, the bill would shorten speaking times and extend voting hours. Government lawyers flagged some provisions as overly restrictive, and with elections approaching, the changes are unlikely to be approved in time. An alternative proposal is also under discussion.

New U.S. tariffs on auto parts, effective today, will mainly affect Czech producers indirectly, as less than 1 percent of their output goes to the U.S., industry data shows. The 25 percent duty could raise prices of direct exports by CZK 2 billion annually. Experts warn of broader impacts through German carmakers and long-term shifts in investment toward North America amid escalating trade tensions.

Friday was the warmest day of the year in Czechia, with highs reaching 29.8 degrees Celsius in Kopisty, near Most, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. Temperatures also neared 30 degrees Celsius in Polabí and Poohří, but no local records were broken. The heat is expected to shift to South Moravia on Saturday, with Slovakia likely to see especially warm weather today.

The Russian-linked motorcycle club Night Wolves arrived in eastern Slovakia Friday on a commemorative ride marking 80 years since the end of WWII. Around 40 bikers, mostly from Czechia and Slovakia, visited war memorials in Svidník and Dukla under police escort. The group, known for ties to Vladimir Putin, plans to continue to Bratislava and then Czechia. Some countries consider their rides politically provocative.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala will tour regional centers across Czechia, excluding Karlovy Vary, from mid-May to June 25 to meet voters ahead of the autumn elections. The campaign, led by Fiala's Together coalition, includes debates moderated by actress Iva Pazderková and visits to 200 municipalities. Recent polls show the opposition ANO party leading, with Together trailing in second place.

Slovak police detained a 38-year-old man on Wednesday wanted for large-scale property crimes in Czechia, officials said. The Slovak national was arrested under a European warrant and is also suspected of assaulting police and causing vehicle damage during a prior escape attempt in Czechia. He tried to flee again during the Slovak arrest but was stopped by a special police unit.

The opposition ANO party launched a new phase of its election campaign this month, featuring billboards with leader Andrej Babiš and the slogan “On the side of Czechia.” Other visuals contrast his former government with the current cabinet, highlighting lower prices and debt. ANO, leading polls at over 30 percent support, continues to criticize Prime Minister Fiala’s leadership ahead of the autumn elections.