Housing Prices Surge Across Czech Republic

Prices for existing housing in the Czech Republic have increased by an average of 19% over the past year, reaching CZK 81,104 per square meter by the end of 2025. The most expensive apartments remain in Prague, where the average price exceeded CZK 151,000 per square meter, and in Brno, at around CZK 118,000. The fastest price growth is being recorded in traditionally more affordable regions, with some areas seeing increases of almost a third.

Czech Government Moves to Fully Nationalize ČEZ

The Czech government has begun preparations for the full nationalization of the energy company ČEZ by buying out shares from minority shareholders. Industry Minister Karel Havlíček said the process could take up to two years. Currently, the state, via the Ministry of Finance, owns approximately 70% of the company, with the remaining stake held by private investors.

Massive Counterfeit Cigarette Bust in Karlovy Vary

In Karlovy Vary, customs officers seized hundreds of thousands of counterfeit cigarettes and large sums of cash during an operation targeting the illegal tobacco trade. Authorities confiscated 666,000 cigarettes, about CZK 1 million and €81,555 in cash, along with nearly 200 counterfeit clothing items. Three Czech citizens of Vietnamese descent were detained in connection with the case.

Cold Weather Set to Grip Czech Republic

The second half of January and early February are expected to be very cold in the Czech Republic. Despite earlier forecasts of a mild winter, current weather models indicate a return of persistent frost, even during daylight hours. The cold is likely to continue for much of February, making this winter one of the coldest in recent years.

Czech freed from Venezuelan jail returns to Prague

A plane carrying Czech national Jan Darmovzal, who was imprisoned for 16 months by the Venezuelan authorities, landed in Prague on Sunday evening, the Czech News Agency reported.

Czech government moves to scrap public broadcasting fees

Leaders of the governing coalition have agreed to abolish licence fees for public Czech Television and Czech Radio and to adjust the timetable for changing their financing. Lower house Speaker and Freedom and Direct Democracy leader Tomio Okamura announced the decision after a meeting of coalition leaders on Monday.