On December 21st 2023, a series of horrific events transpired at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University. The fourteen deaths in the heart of Prague, the deadliest mass attack in Czechia’s history, shocked the country and the world, and forever tainted a place of learning and vibrant student life with tragedy and grief. One year later, Czechia pr…

The Czech lower house on Wednesday approved a series of amendments to the Lex Ukraine law, stemming from the need to address asylum issues and security concerns relating to the ongoing war. One of the controversial points of the bill was its aim to make it more difficult for Russians to obtain Czech citizenship.…

Russian oligarch Rostislav Zorikov, the former son-in-law of Russian arms dealer Boris Obnosov, will remain on the Czech national sanctions list. The Prague Municipal Court on Tuesday rejected his complaint, ruling that the government’s decision to blacklist him and his now ex-wife Olga had been fully justified.…

On Thursday, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský received the seal and stamp symbolizing the termination of the Warsaw Pact from Hana Hlaváčková, President of the Czechoslovak Foreign Institute, which has been their custodian until now. The handover took place at the opening of the Foreign Ministry's traditional year-end event, held to thank partners, in…

The Senate has passed an amendment to the gun law that will oblige arms dealers and shooting range owners to report suspicious clients to the police. The measure is a forerunner of a massive overhaul of the gun law that will come into force in 2026, approved in reaction to the tragic shooting at the Prague Faculty of Arts almost exactly a year ago.…

The “Lex Babiš” law prohibiting members of the government from owning media outlets has been a political battleground since it was approved in 2016. Now significant parts of the law have been invalidated by the Constitutional Court for procedural reasons, presenting a new setback in efforts to prevent conflict of interest in politics.…

Although only founded in 2022, the Motorists political party is quickly establishing itself in Czech politics. Following success in the 2024 European elections, and a confident first party congress on December 7th, the Motorists are striving to present themselves as a valid contender for Czechs’ votes. Danny Bate spoke to political scientist Jiří P…

Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria has collapsed after 13 years of conflict, bringing to a close over 50 years of rule by the al-Assad family. The fall of the Assad regime in Syria has been welcomed by the West – including Czechia. But what exactly are Czech political representatives saying about the developments?…

The proportion of young Czechs planning to have children in the next three years has significantly declined, with the sharpest drop among those in difficult economic situations. These findings are part of the ongoing ‘Contemporary Czech Family’ research project, a collaboration between Masaryk University in Brno and Charles University in Prague. I …

The Czech Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday passed the 2025 state budget with a CZK 241 billion deficit. It was approved with the support of the four ruling parties, despite strong criticism from the opposition, including the Pirate Party, which recently left the coalition government. Vít Pohanka asked Lukáš Kovanda, chief economist at Trinity Bank, f…

Petr Pavel is currently exploring the southern hemisphere, as the Czech president continues his two-week visit to Australia and New Zealand. Together with First Lady Eva Pavlová, the president is working through a full programme of meetings focused on trade, diplomacy and defence, as well as some more relaxed cultural experiences.…

This Sunday, December 1, Prague will host the annual International Charity Market. Organized by local embassies and the Diplomatic Spouses Association, this one-day event will feature Christmas gifts and Saint Nicholas treats from over 40 countries, with all proceeds supporting Czech charities.

Czechs are wary of the euro. Despite the fact that Czechia has been a European Union member country for more than two decades, the common European currency is viewed with suspicion by the majority of the population.

There was a small but vocal pro-Palestinian demonstration welcoming the chief of Israeli diplomacy Gideon Saar in Hradčany today. However, the voices of the 15 to 20 protesters did not reach the inner rooms of the Černín Palace, the seat of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The military air base in Prague-Kbely is planning to establish a new memorial featuring a Russian/Soviet Yakovlev Yak-40 aircraft. A petition opposing the idea has been initiated by soldiers, who advocate for showcasing a Czech aircraft instead.

“More funding, more soldiers and more active reserves” that was the message Czech army commanders sent to politicians and the public in connection with the growing threat of war. The army chief-of-staff said NATO’s new collective defense commitments would necessitate far-reaching changes in the Czech military.…

Israel's recently appointed foreign minister, Gideon Saar, will visit Czechia on Thursday during his first official foreign trip. The Czech Republic supports the Jewish state in its fight against Hamas and Hezbollah with fewer reservations than other EU countries.

Czechia will have troops on the ground in Africa again, with members of the country’s army set to return to the Sahel region, as part of a NATO programme to help train the Mauritanian military. A two-year mandate for up to thirty special-forces soldiers was approved by the Czech parliament last week.…

Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský paid a two-day working visit to Kyiv at the weekend. In addition to meetings with President Zelensky, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Foreign Minister Sybiha, Mr. Lipavský attended a summit on food security, visited a children's hospital and a demining project of the HALO Trust fund.…

On Thursday, the International Criminal Court (ICC), supported by the United Nations, issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former defense minister Yoav Gallant, and former Hamas commander Mohammed Deif, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity. But what have Czech representatives made of the judicial …

The Czech government has moved to address a pressing problem in health care for people living in the border regions who often have to travel long distances to see a specialist or dentist. A proposed amendment to the law should open the way for cross-border health care to be covered by Czech insurance companies.…

Organisers of this year's UN climate change conference, known as COP29, which began last week in Baku, Azerbaijan, have not shown great optimism as the event reaches its end on Friday. The atmosphere has not been helped by the re-election of Donald Trump as US president, leaving global climate agreements at a critical juncture, with their future on…

With less than a year to go before the general elections, President Petr Pavel is calling on Czechs to listen more to one another.

Alsu Kurmasheva, a Russian-American Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist, was released in a landmark prisoner exchange in August, following nine months in Russian detention. The mother of two was sentenced to 6.5 years in prison on charges of spreading false information about the Russian military. On August 1, she was finally reunited with he…

As the country approaches the 35th anniversary of Velvet Revolution of 1989, hundreds of dissidents have seen their income rise by an average of 4,400 Czech Crowns.

With President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House, many are expecting substantial changes in US foreign policy. The bilateral relationship between the US and Czechia could also see adjustments. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský discussed some of these possible changes with Czech Radio.

Jozef Síkela spoke to the European Parliament on Wednesday to defend his designation as European Commissioner for International Partnerships. Síkela was questioned by members of the Development Committee, outlining a vision for the EU's Global Gateway strategy that balances economic interests with core European values.…

The victory of Republican candidate Donald Trump in the 2024 US presidential election has surprised some analysts in both American and international political circles. But how will Czechs be impacted in the years to come from another Trump term? I spoke to the political scientist and author Jiří Pehe to find out what he thinks about the potential i…

Marta Kubišová’s Prayer for Marta, the unofficial anthem of the Velvet Revolution, and the Hussite chant Ktož jsú boží bojovníci, or All You Mighty Warriors of God, are among the six Czech songs selected for the first-ever EU Songbook, published on Tuesday.

Around 1.5 million Americans claim Czech identity. Czech Radio spoke to some of them and here is a snapshot of their opinions before the historic presidential election.

With the US presidential election approaching on Tuesday, the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump has captured global attention, including in Czechia. For some, American politics may seem distant. Other Czechs are closely watching the election because of its expected implications for transatlantic relations, …

The Božena 5 de-mining system has been brought to the Kharkiv region by members of the Czech association, Team4Ukraine. The money for it was raised by Czech and Slovak organizations, led by the “Gift for Putin” initiative, in a public collection.

Yesterday, Czechs celebrated the 106th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia in a nationwide state holiday. But despite the historically close links between Czechs and Slovaks, since Robert Fico's return as Slovakia's prime minister in 2023, there has been a distinct cooling in relations between the former sister states. I spoke with Kristí…

On October 28th, Czechia celebrates 106 years since the declaration of Czechoslovakia as an independent state. Historian and political scientist Jan Adamec walked us through the history of the new country's heads of state, from its first to its last.

NATO has increased recruitment in response to global threats, including Russia’s actions in Crimea and Ukraine. In order to attract more candidates from Czechia, which ranks 22nd in representation of employees among NATO members, a NATO career workshop was held at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I went there to interview Assistant Secretary …

Main Czech opposition leader Andrej Babiš says he has been cleared and has never worked for communist secret police. Not true! Says PM Petr Fiala.

The Czech government's austerity policies under Prime Minister Petr Fiala are shaped by both economic necessity and political ideology. Rising inflation, stagnating wages, and a housing crisis have fueled public dissatisfaction, while the deficit continues to grow without significant investments in long-term economic growth. I spoke with Klára Vota…

At the opening of an exhibition marking 20 years since the abolition of compulsory military service in the Czech lands, Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka admitted that the military is struggling to meet its recruitment goals. He said radical action is needed to be taken since the army was becoming uncompetitive on the labour market.…

Political analyst Jiří Pehe says 2024 is the year when the traditional Czech Social Democratic Party came to an end.

The Czech Senate has passed new limits on the sale of weaker psychomodulatory substances, including kratom and hexahydrocannabinol (HHC). If signed into law by the president, the substances will only be available to buy by adults and in specific stores from December.

As the inhabitants of Jeseník, one of the towns hardest hit by the September floods, scramble to get their homes in order ahead of the winter, many are mulling their future and considering moving to safer locations. In an effort to prevent depopulation and open the way to more effective flood mitigation measures, the agriculture minister has said t…

A three-day strike will affect most Czech courts starting Monday, with up to two-thirds of regional court employees expected to participate. However, the Constitutional Court will not take part, and judges, who are legally prohibited from striking, are not directly affected.

The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings against Czechia for discrimination of Roma children placed in special and substandard schools.

Inflation, man-made climate change, wars, and other global events have an understandable impact on people's mental health. What is the situation like in Czechia and what are Czechs most concerned about? A new study from PAQ Research has some of the answers.

The Duke Wenceslas Future Leaders Programme, which welcomes the diplomats, activists and political analysts of the future to Czechia, has been successfully completed for a second year. Organised by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the scheme this year welcomed ten participants from eight countries, and gave them an in-depth look at Czech life…

Czechia has vetoed a European Union statement that urged an "immediate ceasefire" between Israel and Hezbollah and condemned the civilian casualties in Lebanon. Critics of the veto argue that it prevents the EU from issuing a unified stance on the latest developments in the Middle East. Divisions among EU member states have surfaced since Hamas’ Oc…

Last week’s regional elections saw Andrej Babiš and his ANO party triumph in 10 of the 13 regions. On Saturday, ANO also led in the Senate elections, securing eight of the 27 seats contested. Voter turnout was historically low, however, with only 17.5% in the second round. I spoke with political analyst and author Jiří Pehe to discuss the results o…

At the 79th session of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Czech President Petr Pavel called for reform of the Security Council, which he said must be more effective and inclusive to better reflect the voices of underrepresented regions. At the same time, he applauded African efforts for peace and security even beyond their borders and called for…

The opposition ANO party won a landmark victory in the weekend regional and Senate elections, coming out top in 10 of the 13 regions where voting took place. I discussed the outcome of the vote and its possible consequences with political commentator Pavel Havlíček and began by asking what contributed to ANO’s huge success in the elections.…

The 2024 Senate and regional elections could not have come at a worse time for thousands of people in the badly flooded eastern parts of the country. Around 30 municipalities are voting in makeshift polling stations with the help of power generators and volunteers. Many mayors have resigned themselves to a dismally low turnout.…