Czech news in brief for June 4: Wednesday's top headlines

Central Bohemia Governor Petra Pecková condemned a recent visit by students from Sedlčany high school to the Russian House in Prague, calling it “absolute madness” amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. The school said the trip focused on Russian author Alexander Pushkin and was not meant to spread propaganda. The Russian House is linked to a Russian state agency under EU sanctions. School officials expressed regret over the visit, which has drawn public criticism too.

The Czech Supreme Administrative Court has today lifted an injunction blocking the signing of a contract for new reactors at the Dukovany nuclear plant. The court upheld complaints from Elektrárna Dukovany II and Korea’s KHNP, the winning bidder. The injunction was issued after a lawsuit by France’s EDF, a losing bidder. The court ruled the complaint has no suspensive effect, allowing the project—Czechia’s largest-ever order, valued at CZK 407 billion—to proceed. Read our full guide on the issue here.

Czech President Petr Pavel this afternoon accepted the resignation of Justice Minister Pavel Blažek, following controversy over a bitcoin donation linked to a convicted criminal. Blažek, of the Civic Democrats, stepped down after receiving a CZK 1 billion donation from Tomáš Jiřikovský, convicted in 2017 for embezzlement, drug trafficking, and illegal arming. Though Blažek denied wrongdoing, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said he should take political responsibility. The opposition has called on the government to resign.

Severe thunderstorms are expected across most of the Czech Republic Wednesday afternoon and evening, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has warned. The storms, moving from southwest to northeast, may bring winds up to 100 kilometers per hour, torrential rain, and large hail. The warning is in effect from 3 p.m. Wednesday to 2 a.m. Thursday. A second wave of storms is forecast for Thursday afternoon. Meteorologists urge residents to monitor updates as conditions may rapidly change and cause power outages.

The average wage in the Czech Republic rose 6.7 percent year-on-year to CZK 46,924 in the first quarter, the Czech Statistical Office said today. Adjusted for 2.7 percent inflation, real wages increased 3.9 percent. The median wage grew 5.3 percent to CZK 38,385. Analysts noted that wages have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, and income gaps are widening. Prague reported the highest average wage at CZK 62,472, while the Karlovy Vary region had the lowest.

Consumer prices in the Czech Republic rose 2.4 percent year-on-year in May, up from 1.8 percent in April, according to a preliminary estimate by the Czech Statistical Office. The surprise acceleration was driven by higher food and services prices. Month-on-month inflation rose 0.5 percent. Energy prices fell 6.2 percent, easing the overall rate; without them, inflation would have hit 3.7 percent. Analysts had expected a milder increase. The final data will be released June 10 and may inform Czech National Bank policy.

President Petr Pavel signed a law introducing lobbying regulations, including a lobbyist registry, effective in July. The move fulfills a National Recovery Plan requirement. Lobbying will be defined and tracked across top offices. Additional laws signed include measures for housing support, easier investment by pension funds into housing, and simplified certification for military drones based on risk and weight.

The Czech government will discuss the fallout from a controversial donation of bitcoins to the Justice Ministry, which led to Justice Minister Pavel Blažek’s resignation. PM Petr Fiala proposed MP Eva Decroix as his replacement. The cabinet will also review whether to participate in the Constitutional Court's proceedings on judges' salaries as part of its regular meeting agenda.

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands will return home early from Prague due to political turmoil after the far-right PVV quit the Dutch coalition over migration policy. PM Dick Schoof announced plans to resign. The king will attend Wednesday’s program, including a state dinner with Czech President Pavel, before departing. Queen Maxima will stay through Thursday to complete the remaining engagements.

Gustav Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand, conducted by Semyon Bychkov, concluded the 80th Prague Spring festival. The Czech Philharmonic, joined by eight soloists and three choirs, played to a sold-out crowd. Derek Welton replaced an ailing David Leigh. This year’s festival had 76 events and 30,000 attendees, with record-breaking ticket revenue. The 2025 festival opens May 12; next year’s program will be announced Nov. 4.

Slavia Prague signed 19-year-old Gambian winger Youssoupha Sanyang from Sweden’s Osters on a five-year deal. Slavia’s sport manager praised his speed and versatility. Sanyang played 16 matches in Sweden after arriving in Europe last year. Slavia also added Czech national team midfielder Michal Sadílek from Dutch side Twente. Slavia won the top Czech football league this season.

This year’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will screen 34 films—13 of them debuts—across its competition and non-competition sections. Czech films “Choirmaster” and “Raději zešlet v divízor” will vie in the main competition. Special screenings include Cannes title Caravan and the Vietnamese-Czech story Summer School. The 59th edition runs July 4–12 and honors editor Jiří Brožek and 1940s Hollywood star John Garfield.