Czech news in brief for October 12: Sunday's top afternoon headlines

A Kantar CZ poll shows 56 percent of Czechs support the Chamber of Deputies allowing ANO leader Andrej Babiš to be prosecuted in the Čapí hnízdo subsidy case, while 41 percent oppose it. Babiš, who regained parliamentary immunity after the elections, calls the case political and denies guilt. Potential coalition partners SPD and the Motorists oppose lifting immunity. The case involves a CZK 50-million subsidy, with previous acquittals overturned by the High Court of Appeal.

Motorists party chairman Petr Macinka said the party will nominate only elected MPs for cabinet posts in the emerging government with ANO and SPD. The decision comes amid controversy over honorary chairman Filip Turek, linked by Denik N to allegedly racist and homophobic social media posts. Turek denies authorship, calling it an attempt to discredit him. Motorists plan to file a criminal complaint against Denik N, while the server stands by its reporting.

A demonstration against Andrej Babiš at Hradčanské Square in Prague on Sunday drew just eight participants at 2 p.m., far below the roughly 100 expected. About 20 police officers monitored the event, more than double the number of protestors. Organizers said the low turnout reflected general political fatigue among citizens ahead of the upcoming government formation.

Preliminary estimates show this year’s hop yield in the Žatec region is slightly above average, helped by rainfall that improved both crop size and alpha acid content, said Luboš Hejda, chairman of the Czech Hop Growers’ Association. Production is expected around 6,900 tons of dry hops, similar to 2023. Growers faced challenges with pests, diseases, seasonal labor shortages, and rising electricity costs at harvesting sites.

Czech tennis star Kateřina Siniaková, partnering with Australia’s Storm Hunter, won the doubles title at the Wuhan Open tournament, defeating the eighth-seeded Kazakh-Serbian pair Anna Danilinová and Aleksandra Kruničová 6-3, 6-2. The world No. 1 in doubles claimed her 32nd career doubles title and fourth of the season, marking her third successful partnership this year.