News: Thursday, July 25th, 2024

Government nominates Síkela to European Commission

The Czech government has nominated the minister of industry and trade, Jozef Síkela, for the position of Czech member of the next European Commission. The cabinet selected him unanimously at a meeting on Wednesday over two other candidates, recently elected MEP Danuše Nerudová of the Mayors party and Marcel Kolaja of the Pirates.

According to Prime Minister Fiala, Mr. Síkela has proven his competence over the long term, and during the Czech EU Presidency, he has shown that he was capable of solving problems at the European level.

“We are trying to achieve a portfolio that will be strong, where the Commissioner for Czechia will have real powers. We are convinced that Jozef Síkela is the right candidate who can acquire and manage such a portfolio," Mr. Fiala told reporters after the government’s meeting.

Mayors to discuss replacement for EC nominee Síkela soon

The Mayors plan to discuss a replacement for the party’s Jozef Síkela as minister for industry and trade with the rest of the government soon, leader Vít Rakušan said on Thursday. The cabinet decided on Wednesday to nominate Mr. Síkela as Czechia’s next member of the European Commission.

Mr. Rakušan said the party had people in mind for the industry and trade portfolio and would discuss the matter with coalition partners in August.

There has been speculation that the Mayors’ Lukáš Vlček is in line for the post, if Mr. Síkela does go to Brussels.

Pavel: Russia and China must be at table for Ukraine peace talks

The Czech president, Petr Pavel, says that no peace talks on Ukraine can take place without Russia and China at the table. In an interview published by the Czech News Agency on Thursday, he said that China ought to take more responsibility for peace in the world on the basis of rules – not on the basis of who has the bigger army or greater economic power.

Mr. Pavel said he welcomed the fact that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said for the first time this month that Russian officials would attend the next peace summit related to the conflict.

The Czech head of state said war fatigue was affecting both combatants and that elections in many countries would have an influence, starting with the presidential poll in the US.

Mr. Pavel also said that the outcome of negotiations involving Israel and the Palestinians – from which Hamas must be excluded – should be some form of statehood for the Palestinians.

Pavel says he would veto 2025 budget if government ignores own targets

President Petr Pavel says he would veto a law on next year’s state budget if the government ignored its own stated priorities. The head of state made the comment in an interview with the Czech News Agency published on Thursday.

Mr. Pavel said it was key that the budget be transparent and comprehensible. He is due to attend a cabinet session on the matter at the end of August but said he had no wish to interfere.

This year’s state budget is predicated on a deficit of CZK 252 billion. The Finance Ministry expects to reduce the gap to CZK 235 billion next year.

Stanjura: Plans exist to save jobs at Liberty Ostrava

The Czech minister of finance, Zbyněk Stanjura, said on Thursday that the government’s goal in connection with the Liberty Ostrava smelting works was to preserve its secondary output, meaning steel production, and a substantial number of jobs.

Liberty Ostrava went into bankruptcy in June of this year.

Mr. Stanjura, along with Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Sikela and Labour and Social Affairs Minister Marian Jurečka, held negotiations on a possible takeover of part of the smelter with representatives of the company Moravia Steel, which is interested in it, on Thursday.

The finance minister said Liberty must undergo modernisation with regard to the decarbonisation of Czech industry.

Prague doctors carry out unique operation on foetus in womb

Doctors at the Podolí maternity hospital in Prague have carried out a unique procedure, operating on a seven-month-old foetus with a developmental defect of the diaphragm directly in its mother’s womb, Novinky.cz reported on Thursday.

The surgeons placed a tiny, teardrop-sized balloon inside the foetus to help define the space for the proper development of the baby’s lungs, the news site said. Such an operation had never previously been carried out in Czechia.

Crown jewels to be exhibited every year

President Petr Pavel has decided to display the Bohemian crown jewels every year on the occasion of Czech Statehood Day, which is celebrated on the Day of St Wenceslas, the nation’s patron saint, and falls on September 28. This year, the jewels will be exhibited from 17 to 30 September, the presidential office has informed.

The crown jewels, one of Czechia’s most prized historical artefacts, include the Saint Wenceslas Crown, which was originally made for Charles IV’s coronation in the 14th century, the royal orb and sceptre, the coronation vestments of the kings of Bohemia, a gold reliquary cross, and the sword of St. Wenceslas.

The crown jewels have been displayed at Prague Castle only eight times since the establishment of the independent Czech Republic. Twice under Václav Havel and Václav Klaus, four times under Miloš Zeman, and most recently last January on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the founding of the modern Czech state.

Weather forecast

It should be mainly overcast in Czechia on Friday, with an average high temperature of 26 degrees Celsius. Similar weather is expected on the following days.