Households in the Czech Republic now pay among the highest electricity rates in Europe, according to data from Eurostat covering 39 countries. Domestic users in Czechia paid approximately €317.9 per MWh (around 7,736 CZK including VAT) for the first half of 2025—placing the country sixth-highest in the ranking. The figure covers all components of consumer electricity bills, including commercial charges, regulated fees, taxes and levies. Czech authorities gather these figures through the Czech Statistical Office, which collects data from major energy suppliers covering over 90 % of small-consumer household customers. Only Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Italy and Ireland recorded higher nominal household electricity prices in that period. At the same time, Czechia’s average exceeds the EU-wide average of about €287.2 per MWh (≈ 6,982 CZK) and approaches the euro-area average of roughly €300.6 per MWh (≈ 7,308 CZK). That said, the comparison covers households of varying sizes and usage types. In Czechia, consumers who rely on electricity for heating and hot water pay a lower rate per MWh than those without those uses. If those households were excluded, Czechia’s ranking would drift down to 13th. In contrast, Austria and Germany make no such distinction in pricing between smaller and larger consumption...
Czech consumers are once again paying more for everyday groceries. The latest data from the Czech Statistical Office show that the prices of eggs and dairy products have climbed sharply in recent weeks, continuing a trend that began earlier this year. A carton of ten eggs now costs 67.19 CZK, which is 3.47 CZK more than in September and nearly 18 CZK higher than a year ago. The price has been steadily increasing since August and is now close to its highest point since May, when eggs peaked at 68.32 CZK. Industry experts warn that the situation could worsen in the coming years. Starting in 2027, cage farming will be banned in the Czech Republic — a change that could push prices up even further and reduce local egg production. The Czech-Moravian Poultry Association has cautioned that not all farmers will be able to switch to cage-free systems, potentially leading to greater reliance on imports. Producers say the rising prices are the result of multiple pressures — from higher energy and labor costs to the impact of avian flu outbreaks, expensive breeding material, and costly packaging. Dairy prices are also increasing. A liter of semi-skimmed milk now averages 27.80 CZK,...
Any possible future referendum will exclude questions about Czechia’s geopolitical alignment, ANO deputy chairman says. The future government coalition of the Czech Republic pledged the country’s continued membership in the EU and NATO on Friday. The upcoming coalition of the ANO party, the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party and the Motorists’ Party agreed to clearly affirm Czechia’s membership in the EU and NATO in a policy statement. ANO deputy chairman Karel Havlicek noted that any future referendum will exclude questions about Czechia’s geopolitical alignment. Motorists’ lawmaker Filip Turek, who is seen as the coalition’s possible foreign minister, pointed to strong transatlantic relations, including with the US. President Petr Pavel, who by law appoints prime ministers and ministers, has urged parties not to rush talks. He and Babis will meet on Monday for an update. Parliament meets on November 3. The first session will elect a new speaker before the resignation of the current cabinet, the earliest time a new prime minister can be appointed. Babis, a Donald Trump fan and ally of Hungary’s Viktor Orban, has flagged more focus on domestic and EU affairs and no support for Ukraine from the national budget, a change from the outgoing centre-right...
The parties forming the new Czech government have reached an agreement on how ministries will be divided among them. Andrej Babiš, leader of the Action of Dissatisfied Citizens (ANO) party, announced the deal on Friday evening on X. As the head of the party that received the most votes, he is expected to become prime minister. The cabinet will have sixteen members, though specific names have not yet been revealed. Under the agreement, ANO will control nine ministries in addition to the prime minister’s office. Politicians from the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party will lead the defence, agriculture, and transport ministries, while the Motorists are set to take charge of foreign affairs, culture, environment, and the new Ministry of Sport, Prevention and Health. Babiš said the coalition aimed to finalise the division of portfolios by Friday – and has now done so. The new government will not include ministers responsible for European affairs, legislation, or science, research and innovation. Coalition talks will continue next week on policy issues. Parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic were held late last week and were won by Babiš’s ANO party, which is also a member of the Patriots for Europe group at the...
Andrej Babiš, the leader of the populist ANO party, is in talks with the far right and anti-EU Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party and anti-green and staunchly Eurosceptic Motorists for Themselves to form the next government. Although it is not yet clear whether Babiš will be able to form an ANO minority cabinet, backed by SPD and the Motorists in the parliament, or bring SPD and the Motorists to government positions, it is likely that Czechia will have the most Eurosceptic cabinet yet seen. “There are talks between ANO, SPD and Motorists taking place, and these will certainly take place in many further rounds,” President Petr Pavel said after he held talks with five party leaders at the Prague Castle. “We are putting together bodies of the Chamber of Deputies, that is, leadership and committees,” Fiala said after meeting Babiš, fuelling speculation that SPD leader Tomio Okamura could become the next parliament speaker. Okamura faces police charges following the investigation into the anti-immigration campaign carried out by the SPD last year. Member of the European Parliament and the Motorists’ honorary chairman, Filip Turek, widely known since the European Parliament elections for his home collection of Nazi-era memorabilia, was more...
As the Czech parliamentary elections reshape Central Europe’s political map, European media are following developments in Prague closely. Outlets in Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia describe the return of Andrej Babiš as a potential turning point that could redefine alliances and challenge Czechia’s current pro-Western orientation. Hungary’s pro-government daily Magyar Nemzet, which supports Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, called Babiš’s victory a possible revival of the Visegrád Four’s influence. “Babiš and Orbán have long shared views on migration, opposition to Brussels-style centralization, and resistance to Western war pressures,” the paper wrote, suggesting that a Babiš-led government could “reinvigorate patriotic cooperation” in the region. By contrast, Hungary’s left-leaning Népszava wrote that the Czech Republic—until now seen as “an island of calm in turbulent Central Europe”—may be changing direction. Under President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Petr Fiala, the country has been among Ukraine’s strongest European supporters. “But even here,” Népszava noted, “war fatigue is setting in.” Polish Concerns Over Foreign Policy Poland’s Rzeczpospolita questioned whether a Babiš government would “turn Czech foreign policy upside down and drift toward Moscow.” It recalled that Babiš recently joined the far-right Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament—alongside Orbán and Marine Le Pen—but this time avoided...
After his ANO movement secured victory in the Czech parliamentary elections, Andrej Babiš described the result as the highlight of his political life. Speaking on Saturday evening, he thanked voters who turned out across the country and promised that his party would focus on improving life in the Czech Republic. “We want our country to be the best place to live in the European Union. We will do everything we can to achieve that—believe me,” Babiš told supporters. “We are incredibly happy and grateful to everyone who voted. That’s what democracy is about—people deciding freely.” Babiš called the election campaign “a ride,” adding that the victory marked a “historic success” for the ANO movement. He thanked his campaign and PR teams for their work and assured his voters: “We will never betray you. You can count on us to deliver on our promises.” Looking ahead, Babiš said he plans to begin coalition talks with the SPD and the Motorists party, aiming to form a single-party-led government under ANO. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Petr Fiala, head of the SPOLU coalition (Civic Democrats, TOP 09, and Christian Democrats), reacted to the result by acknowledging defeat. “The outcome is clear and must be accepted...
Andrej Babiš looks on course to become the Czech prime minister again as votes are counted following the country’s general election on Friday and Saturday. Partial results released on Saturday afternoon put Babiš’s ANO party on 37% ahead of the Spolu governing coalition on 21.5% with ballots in almost 75% of the voting precincts counted. The full result is expected to be known on Sunday. The election has been cast as choice between East and West for Czech voters. It comes against a backdrop of a turbulent security situation in Europe, fears of Russian interference and intense speculation over the Czech Republic’s foreign policy orientation if ANO secures victory. ANO and Babiš, who was prime minister between 2017-2021, will probably replace Petr Fiala’s pro-Western Spolu center-right coalition government, which has been an ardent and active supporter of Ukraine. Babiš has expressed a more dovish stance on the Ukraine war, calling, for example, an end to an international scheme spearheaded by the Czech government that has supplied around 1.5 million artillery shells to Ukraine. He has, however, rejected suggestions by Fiala that he intends to move the Czech Republic towards Russia and away from the West and membership of the EU...
The Czech Republic holds a parliamentary election on October 3 and 4, with the opposition ANO party of former Prime Minister Andrej Babis leading opinion polls ahead of the main centre-right ruling parties. An ANO-led government would probably clash with the European Union on climate policies and migration, tone down support for Ukraine, and ally more often with Hungary’s government led by Viktor Orban. The cost of living, energy prices and the country’s anchoring in the EU and military alliance NATO are the main campaign issues. WHAT DO CZECHS VOTE ON? Czechs elect 200 deputies for a four-year term in the lower house of parliament, under a proportional voting system. Parties must obtain at least 5% of votes to win seats. WHEN DOES VOTING TAKE PLACE? Polls are open 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on October 3 and 8 a.m. to 2. p.m. on October 4. Nearly complete results are expected later in the afternoon of October 4. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? No party is expected to win a majority. The largest party will likely lead talks to form a coalition or secure support for a minority cabinet. The president then appoints the prime minister, usually from the party with a...
Czech authorities have identified and opened an investigation into a network of nearly 300 bot accounts on TikTok that are amplifying pro-Russian narratives and campaigning for anti-system parties – chiefly SPD, Stačilo! and PRO, Deník N reported, citing government sources. According to the Center for the Study of Online Risks, several “content creators” sit at the core of the network, with videos drawing up to 250,000 views. Around them, hundreds of accounts automatically liked and reposted content to trick TikTok’s algorithm into deeming the clips “popular” and pushing them to real users. The coordinated campaign’s total reach is estimated at 800,000 to 1.3 million views. The accounts posted videos against the EU and NATO, as well as clips featuring politicians from Stačilo! (“Enough!” – a left-wing coalition led by the Communists), SPD (“Freedom and Direct Democracy” – a far-right party) and PRO (“Right, Respect, Professionalism” – a right-populist movement). Among those featured: Stačilo! leader Kateřina Konečná, former foreign minister Lubomír Zaorálek, SPD figures Radim Fiala, Tomio Okamura and economist Miroslav Ševčík, and PRO leader Jindřich Rajchl. The fast-rising popularity of videos by former politician Miroslav Sládek, who is running with the alliance Česká republika na 1. místě! (“Czech Republic First!”),...
Canada, Australia, and Portugal have joined the United Kingdom in formally recognising Palestinian statehood as Israel plans to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank and intensifies its war on Gaza. In a statement on Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the recognition of a Palestinian state and offered “our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel”. “Recognising the State of Palestine, led by the Palestinian Authority, empowers those who seek peaceful coexistence and the end of Hamas. This in no way legitimises terrorism, nor is it any reward for it,” Carney said. He added that the Palestinian Authority provided “direct commitments” to Canada on reforming its governance; holding general elections next year, which Hamas “can play no part” in; and demilitarising the Palestinian state. At the same time, Australia announced that it was also recognising Palestinian statehood. In a statement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Australia said its recognition alongside Canada’s and the UK’s was part of an international effort for a two-state solution. The Czech Republic Does Not Plan to Do So Now The Czech Republic does not plan to recognize the State of...
The Czech Republic has delivered over a million artillery shells to Ukraine, but the populist ANO party criticizes this initiative. Its leader, Andrej Babiš, promises to stop supplies if he comes to power, considering the costs too high for taxpayers. Babiš stated that the money should be spent “on our own people.” In an interview with Reuters, he called the initiative “rotten” and said it would be stopped if his party returned to power. “According to the information we have, it’s about an inadequate profit margin, low quality, and questionable suppliers. For these reasons, this issue should be dealt with at the NATO level,” said ANO deputy chairman Karel Havlíček to POLITICO. The Czech government, led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, has defended the ammunition supply initiative. “Any halt to the initiative would be a real gift to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. Those who talk about it risk Europe’s security,” Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský warned last month at a meeting with Czech ambassadors. Prague launched the ammunition supply program in 2024 in response to US delays in supplying shells to Ukraine. Due to a shortage of weapons, Kyiv experienced a critical lack of arms at a time when Russia was...
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