News: Friday, October 4th, 2024

Government’s pension reform goes into third and final reading

The parties of the ruling coalition on Friday used their majority in the lower house to send the bill on pension reform into its third and final reading, forcibly cutting short the debate after 26 hours of obstruction tactics by the opposition parties. The  proposal envisages a gradual increase in the retirement age linked to a higher life expectancy with a ceiling at age 67, a different basis for calculating old-age pensions, a lower indexation of pensions and a minimum pension amounting to 20 percent of the average wage. The present retirement age is 65 for both men and women.

According to Labour Minister Marian Jurečka the reform is necessary for the sustainability of the pension system. The opposition ANO party is highly critical of the planned changes and has said that it will consider filing a complaint against it to the Constitutional Court.

Strike of judiciary sector employees going ahead next week

The planned three-day strike of employees in the judiciary, announced for 7 to 9 October, will go ahead, trade union representatives confirmed following talks with Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura and Justice Minister Pavel Blažek. Minister Blazek said it had not been possible to avert strike action, even though he had promised judiciary employees an increase in their average monthly salary to CZK 41,000. He pointed out that over the past three years the average salary of justice sector employees has increased by CZK 6 000 which is more than other civil servants received. Minister Blažek said the unions are insisting on a change in financing so that employees in the judiciary would be set apart from the rest of the civil service.

Central bank says risk of accelerating inflation remains high

According to the Board of the Czech National Bank, there is still a risk of accelerating inflation in the Czech Republic, especially given the growth in the price of services and the rising costs of real estate and rents in Czechia.

Governor Aleš Michl also identified an increase in the state budget deficit as a risk that could lead to an acceleration in inflation. On Tuesday, the lower house of Parliament approved an amendment to this year's budget that increases the deficit by CZK 30 billion to CZK 282 billion. In August, annual inflation was 2.2 percent.

Last week, six of the seven members of the bank's board backed a quarter percentage point cut in the key interest rate to 4.25 per cent.

Marian Jurečka to run for reelection as Christian Democratic Party leader

The leader of the Christian Democratic Party Marian Jurečka has said he will run for reelection to the party’s top post at the party’s election conference in Olomouc in two weeks’ time. His main rival for the post will be  Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný, who confirmed his candidacy on Thursday. Marek Výborný led the Christian Democrats, who are a member of the SPOLU coalition in the Fiala government, for less than a year from 2018 to 2019, but left the post after the sudden death of his wife, so as to take care of his three children. Jurečka has led the Christian Democrats since 2020 and faces criticism for the party's dwindling popularity. Commentators say the choice of leader will decide the party’s fate in next year’s general elections.

Police detain 18-year-old who threatened to go on a shooting spree

The police have detained an 18-year-old student who threatened to go on a shooting spree at his school in Prague 8. He also told classmates that he wanted to obtain a firearms license and repeatedly praised the lone shooter who killed 14 people and injured 25 at the Faculty of Arts at Charles University last December. During a search of the detained student's home, the police discovered airsoft guns and knives, Prague police said on their website on Friday.

Bob Dylan kicks off European tour with first of three concerts in Prague

American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will perform the first of three concerts at Prague's O2 universum tonight as part of his *Rough & Rowdy Ways* tour, named after his 2020 album. The following concerts will take place on Saturday and Sunday. The performances will be unique, with a ban on mobile phones to prevent audio and video recording. 83-year-old Dylan will start his European tour in Prague before heading to Germany, France, Luxembourg, and the UK. This marks his return to Prague five years after his last performance in the city.

Weather forecast

Saturday should be overcast and rainy around the country with daytime highs between 8 and 12 degrees Celsius.