Politics & Economics

Babis: “EU Commission Still Does Not Understand Solution to Illegal Migration”

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has rejected the new EU migration policy proposal, calling parts of it “nonsense.” Brussels wants countries to admit relocated asylum seekers and also to pay for sending them home. “At first glance, it seems that the European Commission still does not understand that the solution to illegal migration is to stop illegal migrants when they arrive on European soil,” Babis said. On Wednesday, Brussels proposed a new “flexible” migration policy. The member states would be given options to admit “some” asylum-seekers relocated from other EU countries, to “sponsor” the return of rejected asylum seekers to their countries of behalf of other member states, and to help with “operational” measures. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson explained that the scheme will provide “clear, fair, and faster border procedures so that people do not have to wait in limbo.” She said Europe should “aim to have legal pathways for more migrants and more refugees.” Babis said called the deal “unacceptable.” The strategy should look like this – the people coming from these countries, they should be stopped and turned back to their countries and be given help there. The Czech PM said that Europe should focus on strengthening border protection, rather than forcing those states refusing to accept migrants...

by Prague Morning Sep 24, 2020

Beer Consumption: The Center of Prague is at One-Fifth of the Usual Income

New reports show that beer consumption in the center of Prague has temporarily closed or significantly reduced the production of around 20 mini-breweries.

by Shadia Oseni Sep 24, 2020

Babiš: “The Epidemic is Back. Unfortunately.” PM Addressed the Nation in Televised Speech

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) addressed the nation in a televised speech on Monday evening, following the spike in coronavirus cases across the Czech Republic. “After a nice summer, autumn begins and we are in a very difficult situation again. As always, I will be honest and open with you. The epidemic is back. Unfortunately.” Babiš added it had been a mistake to ease measures in summer, but at the same time his government did not wish to impose the kind of restrictions that halted the economy in spring. Babiš thanked people on the frontlines – healthcare workers, police officers, firefighters, and soldiers – for their tireless work, and outlined the following priorities. “We need to complete an integrated system with high-capacity call centers. Ensure a sufficient number of sampling points and laboratory capacity to report the test results within forty-eight hours.” “We can do it, but only together, as it happened in spring. That is why we must be responsible, and consistent in following the rules. It will be difficult for everyone,” he added. “I would also like to thank the Minister of Health, Adam Vojtěch, who announced his resignation today, for all the work he has done. He is an...

by Prague Morning Sep 21, 2020

Roman Prymula Is the New Czech Health Minister

Roman Prymula will become the new Minister of Health, said PM Andrej Babiš.

by Prague Morning Sep 21, 2020

Czech Health Minister Vojtěch Resigns

Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch (ANO) announced at a press conference on Monday morning that he is stepping down.

by Prague Morning Sep 21, 2020

Taiwan to Donate Face Mask Production System to Czech Republic

A Tainan-based automation equipment manufacturer said Tuesday it will donate a 3D surgical face mask production system to the Czech Republic, helping the European country combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Autoland Technology Co., Ltd. General Manager Kuo Li-lin said the system, which consists of five fully-automated high-end 3D mask production lines, will be jointly donated by his company and a group of machinery industry leaders in southern Taiwan. The system, which costs US$1.52 million, can produce 43,000 masks per day. It will be completed by the company and sent to the Czech Republic before the end of October, Kuo added. Read: China Issues Travel Advisory for Czech Republic Kuo said the decision to donate the equipment to the European country was made after a Czech delegation headed by Senate President Miloš Vystrčil visited Taiwan earlier this month. Meanwhile, Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che, who visited the company Tuesday, praised the donation as a perfect example of how Taiwan companies are willing to offer humanitarian assistance to others and a model for “people-to-people diplomacy.” The face masks produced by the Taiwan-donated system are scheduled to be used by frontline healthcare workers in the Czech Republic, he added. Read: ‘I Am Taiwanese’: Czech Senate...

by Prague Morning Sep 15, 2020

Czech Political Party Wants to Limit Airbnb Rentals to 30 Days per Year

The ČSSD party has proposed to limit the number of nights Airbnb hosts can rent out their apartments in Prague, imposing a cap of 30 per year. The efforts of the Social Democrats are criticized by the opposition and the Prague City Hall, which is itself trying to solve the problem. Limitations are a project for Prague mayor Zdeněk Hřib: “In the past, you could limit the amount of tourists in the city simply by approving a certain number of hotels of certain capacity during the process of building permits.” “Now in Prague, there is no possibility for the city to limit the accommodation capacity for tourists.” His plans include petitioning the country’s central legislative body, asking for a greater independent local regulatory authority. While these have been rejected in the past, Hřib hopes that awareness of the problem will increase appetite for regulation. ČSSD proposal it’s just the latest squeeze on the short term rental platform in Europe. Paris requires hosts on platforms to register their apartments with the city so it can better track compliance. The French capital also caps the number of nights hosts can list their apartment, though at a rather more generous 120 per year. Meanwhile,...

by Prague Morning Sep 14, 2020

New Kurzarbeit Law Should Take Effect From November

A new law that would partially subsidize salaries of employees on reduced work schedules, should take effect ideally in November

by Prague Morning Sep 08, 2020

Czech President Slams Senate Leader for ‘Boyish Provocation’ on Taiwan Trip

A visit by the Czech senate speaker to Taiwan was a “boyish provocation,” the country’s President Miloš Zeman said Sunday. Miloš Vystrčil, the president of the Senate, traveled to Taiwan last week for a six-day trip as part of a 90-strong delegation aimed at boosting trade relations. Read: Slovak President Shows Support for Czech Delegation’s Taiwan Visit During the trip, Vystrčil is reported to have told the Taiwanese parliament “I am a Taiwanese,” according to Reuters. Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi called the trip “an act of international treachery,” warning Vystrčil would “pay a heavy price.” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that Vystrcil would “pay a high price for his short-sighted behaviour and political speculation”, while Beijing summoned the Czech ambassador. Amid fears China will announce economic retaliation, Zeman said Vystrčil will now be excluded from foreign policy briefings. “I consider it boyish provocation,” Zeman told the Prima broadcaster. Read: ‘I Am Taiwanese’: Czech Senate Speaker Channels JFK in Taiwan Speech The Czech government did not formally arrange Vystrčil’s Taiwan trip but as a member of the right-wing opposition Civic Democrats, is was not bound by the protocol. Taiwanese parliamentary leader Yu Shyi-kun called Vystrcil’s...

by Prague Morning Sep 07, 2020

Germany May Take Czech Republic Off “Safe” Destinations List

Germany may put the Czech Republic on the list of countries with a high risk of COVID-19 infection, as people returning from the Czech Republic could undergo a 5-day-long quarantine. Emerging scientific evidence has made a rethink on the rules necessary, according to Karl Lauterbach, health spokesman for Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) — the junior coalition partner to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives. “If we limit the quarantine time to five days, social acceptance for the measure would be significantly higher,” Lauterbach told German daily Die Welt. “We know that the vast majority of people are no longer contagious five days after the start of symptoms, even if the PCR test is still showing a positive result,” said Lauterbach, who is also a professor of health economics and epidemiology at the University of Cologne. The presence of the virus does not necessarily mean the patient is infectious. In Germany, the number of new Corona infections per day is still at a relatively high level, compared to the numbers in June and July. But few local outbreaks are being reported these days. In Dresden, the virus hit the ‘St. Benno-Gymnasium’ secondary school. At least 100 persons are being sent into quarantine in their homes....

by Prague Morning Sep 04, 2020

Slovak President Shows Support for Czech Delegation’s Taiwan Visit

Slovak President Zuzana Caputova has voiced support for the Czech Republic’s ongoing visit to Taiwan, calling Beijing’s threats to Czech Senate speaker Milos Vystrcil “unacceptable.” In reaction to the 89-member Czech delegation to Taiwan, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday (Aug. 31) during a press conference with his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, that Vystrcil had “crossed a red line.” He said the Czech Senate leader would “pay a heavy price” for publicly challenging Beijing’s “one-China policy” and encouraging supporters of Taiwanese independence. Read: ‘I Am Taiwanese’: Czech Senate Speaker Channels JFK in Taiwan Speech Despite the threats, Vystrcil said the Czech Republic will not bow to Beijing’s inappropriate demand and described his visit as a domestic affair. He also said the trip was made to honor the memory of the Czech Republic’s first president, Vaclav Havel, who was a strong advocate of Taiwan’s re-entry into the United Nations. In a Twitter post published on Tuesday (Sept. 1), Caputova emphasized that “Slovakia stands by the Czech Republic” and said Beijing’s relations with the European Union are based on “dialogue and mutual respect.” She said Wang’s threat to Vystrcil was contrary to the nature of this partnership. Read: Czech Senate Leader’s...

by Prague Morning Sep 02, 2020

‘I Am Taiwanese’: Czech Senate Speaker Channels JFK in Taiwan Speech

Czech Senate speaker Milos Vystrcil invoked a famous Cold War-era phrase by late US president John F. Kennedy as he delivered a landmark speech to Taiwan’s parliament Tuesday during a visit that has incensed Beijing. Vystrcil channeled Kennedy’s 1963 challenge to communism when he declared “Ich bin ein Berliner” to West Berlin citizens worried about the Soviet Union’s looming presence behind the Iron Curtain. Kennedy “used the phrase ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ to show his support for the people of Berlin and the highest values of freedom”, Vystrcil said. “Maybe I can be more humble, but allow me to use the same determined phrase to conclude my speech in your country’s parliament, in Taiwan — I am Taiwanese.” His final declaration — “I am Taiwanese” — was delivered in Mandarin and received a standing ovation from lawmakers on the self-ruled island. As a precaution against coronavirus, he gave his speech wearing a facemask, which was decorated with the flags of the Czech Republic and Taiwan. Vystrcil is leading a 90-member delegation to Taiwan that Beijing has slammed as a “despicable act”. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned on Monday that Vystrcil would “pay a high price for his short-sighted behaviour...

by Prague Morning Sep 01, 2020

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