Czech news in brief for November 27: Thursday's top morning headlines

Czechia’s lower house voted to return the 2025 draft budget to the outgoing government for revisions, with the incoming ANO–Motorists–SPD coalition arguing the proposal lacks roughly CZK 96 billion for transport, agriculture co-financing, and mandatory social spending. The government now has 20 days to adjust revenues and review social expenditures. Outgoing PM Petr Fiala defended the plan as responsible, but failure to pass it by year-end would trigger a provisional budget.

Heavy snowfall caused major disruptions to Prague’s public transport on Wednesday, halting several tram and bus lines—especially after a broken tram blocked traffic at Masaryk Station. Roads across the city slowed to a crawl, with Strahov seeing the worst conditions as cars and even a fire truck became stuck. Services ran irregularly for hours, but by Thursday morning, the Prague Transport Company reported operations had mainly been restored, though delays may persist.

Skiing opens this weekend in the Krkonoše Mountains, with Špindlerův Mlýn, Černá hora, and Pec pod Sněžkou ready for early visitors thanks to favorable weather and snowmaking. Špindlerův Mlýn launches the Hromovka cable car Friday, with expanded weekend access via Svatý Petr–Pláň. Černá hora opens Friday, Pec on Saturday, including beginner-friendly slopes and family parks. Ski passes remain similar to last year, with online discounts available.

EU member states backed a revised proposal to combat online child sexual abuse, despite opposition from Czechia, Poland, Slovakia, and the Netherlands. The plan allows companies to voluntarily scan encrypted messages as part of risk-mitigation duties, replacing earlier mandatory detection orders. Germany’s shift secured a qualified majority. The Council will now negotiate final wording with the European Parliament, which previously rejected scanning end-to-end encrypted communications.

The tenth annual Schola Pragensis fair, held Nov. 27–29 at the Prague Congress Centre, brings hundreds of schools under one roof to help families navigate options for secondary schooling in Prague. City officials say direct contact with schools helps cut through misinformation and anxiety. Experts urge parents to prioritize student motivation when selecting a school. Read our full article here.