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Summary for: Czech news in brief for October 29: Wednesday's top morning headlines
Pavel gives several state awards at Prague Castle
1️⃣ President Pavel honors notable figures for service to the state
President Petr Pavel awarded 32 Medals of Merit at Prague Castle, honoring national security adviser Tomáš Pojar, Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka, actress Anna Geislerová, and conductor Jakub Hrůša. Pavel awarded the Order of the White Lion, the highest Czech state decoration, to five personalities, including tennis star Martina Navrátilová. The Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the second-highest state decoration, was given to the People in Need charity director Šimon Pánek.
2️⃣ Václav Klaus calls for humility and acceptance following Czech elections
Former president Václav Klaus told a Prague rally Tuesday that election winners must implement change responsibly and losers should accept defeat. He urged calm amid political tensions. Over 100 people attended, including ANO and Freedom and Direct Democracy MPs, and Motorists’ leaders. The ANO movement, led by Andrej Babiš, won the October elections and is forming a coalition. He described the 1990s as a time of extraordinary freedom while taking aim at the EU, too,
3️⃣ State to decide on 7 percent salary hike for educators
The government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala will debate a January 7 percent salary increase for teachers and academics, plus CZK 2,000 for assistants. The Labor Ministry’s draft follows general agreement with unions after tense discord and debates surrounding low pay. Teachers could see monthly gains of CZK 1,880–3,800 before tax. Right now public sector teachers and civil servants earned a median between CZK 43,000 and CZK 45,000.
4️⃣ River levels in Krkonoše area to recede after overnight rains
Heavy rain and melting snow lifted river levels in northern Bohemia overnight, briefly triggering third-degree flood alerts on the Elbe in Vestřev. Up to 45 millimeters of rainfall fell in the Krkonoše Mountains. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute said conditions are calming, with water levels expected to drop as precipitation subsides and snowmelt slows.
5️⃣ Customs officers uncover 1,300 fake brand items at market raid
Prague customs officers seized nearly 1,300 counterfeit products worth about CZK 10 million at the Vietnamese-based Sapa market in the south of the Czech capital. The fakes, spanning 23 brands, included handbags, clothes, and perfumes. Spokesman Igor Lenský said the goods breached intellectual property laws. Officials report similar discoveries frequently at Sapa, one of Prague’s largest wholesale marketplaces.
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