Czech news in brief for October 6: Monday's top headlines

SPD Deputy Chairman Radim Fiala met ANO leader Andrej Babiš Monday to discuss SPD’s nominations to parliamentary committees, without addressing government personnel decisions. Fiala confirmed SPD wants several committee chair positions, expressing his own interest in chairing the economic committee. He provided Babiš with a list of new SPD deputies and their committee preferences. Fiala noted SPD leader Tomio Okamura’s ambition to become head of the Chamber of Deputies but said it was not discussed.

In September, rents in the Czech Republic rose by 15 percent year-on-year to CZK 368 per square meter, and increased by 1.1 percent compared to August, according to real estate platform Bezrealitky.cz. Autumn rent growth was a third faster than a year ago, driven by higher demand from students and households ending leases after summer. The South Bohemian Region saw the highest year-on-year increase, rising 29 percent to CZK 260 per square meter. The Olomouc Region followed with a 28 percent increase, while Pardubice rose by 22 percent. 

The State Election Commission will publish the results of the Oct. 3–4 parliamentary elections in the Collection of Laws on Tuesday, Interior Ministry election chief Tomáš Jírovec said Monday. Citizens may challenge the results at the Supreme Administrative Court from Wednesday through Oct. 17. The commission reported smooth proceedings nationwide, with only one brief interruption due to a small fire outside a polling station. Minor issues arose with verifying electronic IDs, but no formal complaints were filed. 

The Czech Republic will likely begin 2026 under a provisional budget restricting state spending, ANO vice chair Karel Havlíček said Sunday after post-election talks with President Petr Pavel. The timeline will depend on when a new government is formed following ANO’s decisive win, giving it 80 of 200 lower-house seats. Pavel plans to convene the new parliament in early November, when the outgoing cabinet will resign. ANO, now in coalition talks, has criticized the current draft budget.

Reducing or ending Czech support for Ukraine through the ammunition initiative would hurt Czechia most of all, President Petr Pavel said Monday after weekend parliamentary elections. Pavel said he welcomes ANO leader Andrej Babiš' interest in learning more about the initiative, stressing that transparency is not an issue. Babiš’ ANO party won the election and is negotiating a possible coalition with SPD and the Motorists party. Babiš has called the initiative unnecessary, arguing NATO should lead such efforts.

German far-right AfD co-chair Alice Weidel congratulated Czech populist Andrej Babiš on his parliamentary election victory, calling it a “dazzling success.” She also praised Tomio Okamura’s SPD, an AfD ally in the European Parliament, as a key player in Czech politics. Other AfD politicians welcomed the result, linking it to broader gains for Europe’s nationalist parties. Babiš’s ANO party won 34.5 percent of the vote.

A Median survey shows nearly one-third of voters who backed Andrej Babis’s ANO party did so as the “lesser evil,” rather than out of support for its program or values. Together coalition voters mainly cited fears for democracy, while Pirate Party supporters prioritized policies. ANO won 34.5 percent of the vote, ahead of Together at 23.4 percent and STAN at 11.2 percent with smaller parties also entering parliament.

Trams on Jana Želivského Street in Prague will be suspended until Dec. 15 for modernization, affecting eight lines, the Prague Public Transport Company said. Replacement bus service X11 and night bus X98 will run along alternative routes. Line 10 will be temporarily canceled and rerouted via lines 15 and 16. The upgrade is needed due to poor track conditions near the former Žižkov Freight Station.

The Czech Republic faces a cloudy week with showers and rain, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. Highs will rise from 14°C on Monday to 18°C by Thursday, with nights staying above zero. Rain will ease midweek, with occasional showers in the mountains. From Friday, temperatures will drop slightly, showers will be less frequent, and mountain ridges may see mixed or snowy conditions over the weekend.

Czech architect Eva Jiřičná was awarded the Vize 97 prize Sunday by the Dagmar and Václav Havel Foundation at Prague Crossroads. The honor recognized her ability to merge technology, aesthetics and humanity in architecture. Jiřičná, 86, is known internationally for her interior and public space designs, as well as her role in modernizing Czech architecture. The award is presented annually on Václav Havel’s birthday.