Politics & Economics

Babiš’s Globe – Foreign Media Mock Czech PM’s Greenland Remark

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš drew international attention after telling reporters he bought a globe for 15,000 crowns to locate Greenland during a discussion on global security. Speaking at a press conference, Babiš addressed renewed debate over Greenland following U.S. statements about the Danish autonomous territory. He said the globe was large enough for him to see Greenland clearly and later shared a video referencing the purchase on social media. The comment spread quickly online and was reported by foreign outlets. German tabloid Bild highlighted the remark, framing it as a lapse during a serious geopolitical discussion. Russian state daily Izvestia also covered the story, writing that the Czech prime minister had bought a globe in order to search for Greenland. In Latvia, news portal BB ran a similar report. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Andrej Babiš (@andrejbabis) The remarks followed comments Babiš made earlier at a conference on foreign affairs. He said the Czech Republic could not claim to support Greenland and added that perhaps someone might want to buy it. He said Prague preferred any outcome to be resolved within existing alliances. Babiš then referred to strategic missile trajectories. He said a missile launched...

by Prague Morning Jan 22, 2026

Czech Government Refuses to Sell L-159 Aircraft to Ukraine

The Czech government has decided not to sell L-159 light combat aircraft to Ukraine, according to Tomio Okamura, leader of the far-right SPD party. The decision follows a briefing by the defence minister, who told the cabinet that the Czech army would need to retain the jets. Okamura criticised Ukraine’s proposal to purchase the aircraft, which President Petr Pavel publicly supported last weekend. Former prime minister Andrej Babiš said on Monday that no final decision had been taken, but confirmed that the defence ministry had advised against the sale. Okamura argued that replacing the L-159s would cost Prague more than it would earn from selling the domestically produced aircraft to Ukraine. President Pavel has defended the proposal, saying Ukraine’s interest represents an opportunity for the Czech defence industry. During a visit to Ukraine last week, he said selling four of the Czech military’s 24 L-159 jets would not weaken the country’s defence capabilities. The disagreement highlights a broader foreign policy divide between the Ukraine-friendly president, a former NATO general, and the new populist-led government, which has been more critical of EU policies on military support for Kyiv. Shortly after taking office, Babiš was urged by Pavel to pursue a “constructive”...

by Prague Morning Jan 20, 2026

Pope Leo XIV Meets the President of the Czech Republic

Pope Leo XIV received the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, in the Vatican on Monday morning. According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, the President subsequently met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See’s Secretary of State, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. “During the cordial discussions at the Secretariat of State,” the statement said, “appreciation for the good diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Czech Republic was renewed, and the intention to further strengthen them was reaffirmed.” It added that the discussions focused on issues of common interest and on several socio-political matters of a regional and international nature, with particular attention to the ongoing conflicts, “underscoring the importance of an urgent commitment to peace and to the recovery of the principles and values that underpin international coexistence.” Topics included also relations between Europe and the United States, global challenges, and sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. This was President Pavel’s first visit to the papal residence since the election of the new pontiff last year. He planned to invite Pope Leo XIV to visit Czechia, a trip no pope has made since Benedict XVI in 2009. Would you like us...

by Prague Morning Jan 20, 2026

Foreign Workers Now Form the Backbone of the Czech Economy

The Czech economy has entered 2026 facing one of the tightest labor markets in its modern history. Employment is at a record high, unemployment remains close to the floor, and yet employers across the country say they cannot find enough people to keep operations running. Over the past two years alone, the workforce has expanded by roughly 200,000 people. Almost all of that growth has come from abroad, with Ukrainian workers playing a central role. What was once seen as a temporary fix has become a structural pillar of the economy. Without foreign labor, many companies say they would already be forced to cut production or services. A demographic dead end Behind the shortage lies a problem that cannot be solved quickly. The pool of domestic workers is shrinking as the population ages and fewer young people enter the labor market. At the same time, demand for goods and services continues to rise. Construction firms, restaurants and social-care providers are among the sectors already working at full capacity, with orders piling up faster than they can be completed. Managers describe a simple reality: there is work, but no one left to do it. The result is higher costs, longer delivery...

by Prague Morning Jan 11, 2026

Czech State Debt Hits Historic High, Economists Sound Alarm

The Czech state debt has climbed to its highest level in history, nearing 3.7 trillion crowns, and economists warn that the trend is becoming increasingly hard to reverse. In just six years, the figure has more than doubled, turning public finances into one of the most pressing political and economic issues in the country. The impact of this growth is no longer abstract. Spread across the population, the current debt equals roughly 337,500 crowns per person. At the end of 2019, that figure stood at about 153,500 crowns, meaning the individual burden has more than doubled in a short period of time. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová has acknowledged that the situation is deteriorating. She recently pointed out that the share of state debt in gross domestic product has risen again, crossing the 43 percent mark. Only a few years ago, it stood closer to 42 percent. Forecasts suggest the ratio will continue to increase unless major changes are made to public spending and budget planning. Economists are increasingly vocal in their concerns. David Marek warns that the current path is unsustainable. In his view, debt is rising steadily without a clear plan to stop it, and the longer the trend...

by Prague Morning Jan 08, 2026

Czech PM Babiš Promises to Review Ammunition Supplies to Ukraine

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš will review his predecessors’ initiative to supply ammunition to Ukraine. He considers the initiative “a good thing” but demands a corruption check and will discuss it on January 7. As Babiš noted, the initiative regarding weapons for Ukraine is a “good thing,” but the Czech Republic must ensure that the project will be implemented without corruption. He added that currently, the main task is to stop the military conflict. According to Babiš, he first learned about the ammunition initiative at a meeting with the director of the Czech Agency for Intergovernmental Defense Cooperation on December 22, 2025. This issue is to be discussed on January 7 at a meeting of the Czech State Security Council. Czech Parliament Speaker Tomio Okamura spoke out against providing weapons to Ukraine, calling the war “senseless.” He stated that Czech pensioners’ money should not go to support “pro-war propaganda.” In response, Czech opposition deputies want to initiate a vote on the dismissal of SPD party leader Tomio Okamura from the post of Speaker of the lower house of parliament. Czech President Petr Pavel expressed concern about Tomio Okamura’s anti-Ukrainian statements. He stated that he would raise this issue for discussion...

by Prague Morning Jan 04, 2026

Czech Flag Day Proposal Could Reopen Old Dispute with Slovakia

When Prime Minister Andrej Babiš used his New Year’s address to suggest the creation of a Czech Flag Day, he likely expected a symbolic gesture of national unity. Instead, the proposal has revived an old and unresolved dispute rooted in the breakup of Czechoslovakia more than three decades ago. Babiš has said he wants March 30 to be marked as Czech Flag Day, recalling the moment in 1920 when the flag was formally adopted. Yet that date refers not to a Czech national symbol, but to the flag of Czechoslovakia — a state that ceased to exist in 1993. The distinction matters, particularly in Slovakia, where the legacy of the shared federation remains sensitive. When Czechoslovakia dissolved peacefully at the end of 1992, the federal parliament adopted a constitutional law governing the separation. The law was clear: neither successor state was permitted to use the former federation’s state symbols. This included the flag, which until that point represented both nations equally. Despite this, when the Czech Republic formally came into existence on January 1, 1993, it adopted a national flag identical in design to the former Czechoslovak banner. Slovakia objected at the time, arguing that the move violated the agreed...

by Prague Morning Jan 02, 2026

Ukrainian Ambassador Criticizes Czech Speaker Okamura for Pro-Russian Statements

The Ukrainian ambassador to the Czech Republic, Vasyl Zvarych, voiced sharp criticism of the statements by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Tomio Okamura, voiced in his New Year’s address. He stressed that Okamura’s words indicate a position formed under the influence of Russian propaganda. “The insulting and hateful statements by Tomio Okamura about Ukraine and Ukrainians, voiced today in his New Year’s address, we regard as his personal position, formed, evidently, under the influence of Russian propaganda. The words he has used about my fellow citizens and Ukraine, in particular about the democratically elected leadership of the Ukrainian state, are unworthy and absolutely unacceptable. They contradict the principles of a democratic society and the values on which the Czech Republic rests as an integral part of the European community”, said Zvarych Zvarych expressed hope that state authorities and Czech civil society will provide due assessment of these statements and their alignment with the high public office held by Okamura. “I believe that our republic will jump off the Brussels train, which, despite warnings from the U.S. government, is heading toward World War III, – said Okamura. – Money flows in all directions, and everyone...

by Prague Morning Jan 02, 2026

Real Wages in Czechia Forecast to Grow Faster Than EU Average in 2026

Households in the Czech Republic are expected to earn more in real terms in 2026, as wages adjusted for inflation are forecast to grow at one of the fastest rates in Europe. New economic projections point to a year of recovery after several difficult years marked by high inflation and falling living standards. According to forecasts published by Euronews, the Czech Republic is set to rank second among European Union countries for real wage growth. Real wages, which reflect income adjusted for price changes, are projected to increase by 2.7 percent. The same rate is expected in Bulgaria and Poland, placing the three countries just behind Hungary, which is forecast to lead the EU with growth of 3.5 percent. Elsewhere in Central Europe, wage growth is expected to be more modest. In Slovakia, for example, real wages are predicted to rise by around 1.9 percent. The European Commission’s outlook broadly supports these expectations. While nominal wages in the Czech Republic are forecast to rise by roughly five percent in 2026, the key figure for households is the real increase after accounting for price pressures. Economists see this as a sign that incomes will finally start to catch up with the...

by Prague Morning Dec 29, 2025

The New Czech Government Plans to End Military Support for Ukraine

The Czech government is preparing to end its military support for Ukraine. Tomio Okamura, chairman of the SPD party and speaker of parliament, announced after a nearly three-hour meeting that the Ministry of Defense has been instructed to prepare documentation to terminate the Czech Republic’s participation in the ammunition supply program for Ukraine. Okamura emphasized that the Czech state budget will no longer finance Ukraine’s military efforts. The prepared documents are scheduled for discussion first at a coalition council meeting and then at the cabinet level. The SPD leader also reported that Defense Minister Jaromír Zuna, representing SPD in the government, declined an invitation to visit Ukraine, reversing his earlier announcement to journalists regarding such a trip. Budget allocations for purchasing ammunition and weapons for Ukraine will cease, Okamura confirmed. He stressed that any remaining support should aim to expedite the conflict’s resolution and contribute to a peaceful settlement, which, in his view, should proceed through negotiations with Russia based on a plan associated with former US President Donald Trump. The Czech government has not yet reached a decision regarding the acquisition of American F-35 fighter jets. Okamura reiterated SPD’s stance that the purchase is unsuitable and prohibitively expensive. He...

by Prague Morning Dec 23, 2025

Czechia, Hungary, and Slovakia Not to Be Involved in €90 Billion EU Loan for Ukraine

European Union leaders decided on Friday to borrow cash to loan 90 billion euros to Ukraine to fund its defence against Russia for the next two years rather than use frozen Russian assets. The leaders also gave the European Commission a mandate to keep working on a so-called reparations loan based on Russian immobilised assets but that option proved unworkable for now, above all due to resistance from Belgium, where the bulk of the assets is held. “Today we approved a decision to provide 90 billion euros to Ukraine,” EU summit chairman Antonio Costa told a press conference early on Friday morning after hours of talks among the leaders in Brussels. “As a matter of urgency, we will provide a loan backed by the European Union budget.” The idea of EU borrowing initially seemed unworkable as it requires unanimity and Hungary’s Russia-friendly Prime Minister Viktor Orban had opposed it. But Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic agreed to let the scheme go ahead as long as it did not impact them financially. The EU leaders said Russian assets, totalling 210 billion euros in the EU, will remain frozen until Moscow pays war reparations to Ukraine. If Moscow ever takes such...

by Prague Morning Dec 19, 2025

Czech New Foreign Minister Backs Moving Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

The Czech Republic’s new foreign minister, Petr Macinka, announced his intention to relocate the country’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The comments were made during a Hanukkah lighting in Prague. “It should have been done a long time ago,” said Macinka, who entered office on Monday. During his speech, Macinka also addressed the antisemitic terror attack in Sydney, which led to the murder of 15 people. Macinka expressed solidarity with Israel and the Jewish community, and noted that one way of acting on that solidarity would be to move the embassy to Jerusalem, which Israel recognizes as its capital. Israel’s ambassador to the Czech Republic, Amir Weissbrod, praised Macinka for attending. “In Prague, many people gathered to celebrate the holiday together and express solidarity in the fight against antisemitism,” wrote Weissbrod on X. “My sincere thanks go to all the distinguished guests who attended this evening. This evening there was an exceptional atmosphere.” The Czech Republic’s new government was sworn in on Monday, led by Andrej Babiš. He is expected to follow in the footsteps of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Slovakia’s Robert Fico, whose countries have refused to provide military aid to Ukraine and oppose EU sanctions on Russia....

by Prague Morning Dec 17, 2025

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