Radio Prague International - Topic «Politics»

Commemorating exactly fourteen years since the death of former president Václav Havel, candles and flowers are laid in remembrance – not only of a president, but also of an artist, playwright, dissident, and public figure. Havel has come to symbolise the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia in 1989, in which he played a key role. Yet, political analyst Jiří Pehe, who served as Havel’s advisor and k...

The Constitutional Court has struck down legislation that allowed for a separate enrolment of children from Ukraine into Czech primary schools. In its ruling, the court criticised the discrimination of a particularly vulnerable group—namely refugee children—warning that the legal framework could complicate their access to education.

President Petr Pavel has appointed a new Czech government. In his address, Pavel warned that the cabinet is taking office at a turbulent moment marked by international tensions and domestic expectations. He urged ministers to provide stability at home while acting as constructive members of NATO and the European Union.

Precisely ten years ago, the Paris Agreement was adopted by a record 195 parties – a moment of relief and euphoria for Stéphane Crouzat, who was among the architects of the landmark deal and is now France’s ambassador to Czechia. What does he make of Czechia’s stance on climate change ten years on from the Agreement?

Andrej Babiš was appointed Czech prime minister for the third time on Tuesday morning at Prague Castle. His return comes almost four years after he left office, as ANO forms a coalition with SPD and the Motorists. The government could be fully appointed within a week, pending the resolution of one controversial ministerial nomination.

The hepatitis A outbreak in Czechia is far from abating. Doctors have recorded close to 3,000 cases of the highly infectious disease this year, which is twenty times more than last year and the highest figure in 30 years. How serious is the situation, what is being done and what are the outlooks?  

The winner of October’s general elections and likely future prime minister, Andrej Babiš (ANO), on Wednesday delivered the proposed line-up of his new three-party cabinet to President Pavel. Only one nominee failed to pass muster- the controversial honorary chair of the Motorists’ party, Filip Turek, who has been linked to racist and homophobic posts on social media.   

Polish President Karol Nawrocki on Monday paid his first visit to the Czech Republic since taking office. Traditionally strong partners and allies, the two neighbours have been brought even closer together by the worsening security situation, their proximity to the war in Ukraine and their concerns over Russian expansionism.

Forged from weapons used by Russia in Ukraine, the “bell of freedom” now rings from the north tower of the Church of the Holy Saviour next to the Charles Bridge. Formally handed over by the Dutch royal couple in June, it was blessed last week by priest Tomáš Halík in a ceremony attended by the Ukrainian, Dutch, and Danish ambassadors.

The ongoing dispute between President Petr Pavel and Andrej Babiš — billionaire businessman and owner of the Agrofert Holding — over how he must resolve his conflict of interest is making headlines across Czechia. But historically speaking, tensions between the Castle and the head of government are far from unusual.

In 2024, Czechia sent 1.5 million rounds to Kyiv and aims to supply 1.8 million by the end of 2025. This is by far the largest part of Europe’s vital ammunition supplies to Ukraine. Czech support for Ukraine has been steadfast. But can we expect it to continue? It was also because of this that I traveled to Ukraine with an international group of journalists in October. I wanted to get a sense of h...

Last Thursday, Tomio Okamura (SPD) ordered the removal of the Ukrainian flag from the Czech lower house of parliament shortly after being elected its speaker. The act sparked widespread debate across the Czech political scene. The latest reaction came from President Petr Pavel, whose stance can be summarised as: flags are a symbol, but it would be worse if Czechia stopped its aid to Ukraine.

Tomio Okamura, leader of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, has been elected Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, making him the third-highest constitutional official in Czechia. A controversial figure, he was charged earlier this year with inciting racial hatred. But can he reinvent himself in his new role as Speaker, as he seems to hope? Radio Prague International spoke with political...

The two successor states of Czechoslovakia find themselves in a period of recalibration. With Andrej Babiš on the verge of being appointed as prime minister in Prague and Robert Fico reasserting his influence in Bratislava, questions abound over how these two nations will manage their ties amid what were differing approaches to the Russia–Ukraine war, EU politics, and regional cooperation. I spoke...

Viktor Yushchenko, who served as president of Ukraine from 2005 to 2010, was a central figure in Ukraine’s democratic trajectory. He played a key role in the Orange Revolution of late 2004, a precursor to the Maidan Revolution ten years later that fundamentally changed the country’s future. On my trip to Ukraine in early October with a group of international journalists, the former president spent...

In Czechia, many statues commemorate the Czech patron saint St. Wenceslaus. However, an important depiction of him can also be found in the iconic St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna – and now, after more than 300 years, it is finally complete again.

As coalition talks between ANO, SPD, and the Motorists' parties continue, education has become one of the most sensitive topics on the table. While all three parties agree on raising teachers’ pay and cutting bureaucracy, SPD and the Motorists have called for an end to inclusion in schools. The debate, experts say, reflects not only policy disagreements but also broader cultural tensions that are...

Nicholas Merrick has officially assumed his duties as the new U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Republic. Yesterday, he presented his credentials to President Petr Pavel, beginning his first diplomatic posting.

Through the work of the Czech NGO Koridor UA, we take a look at what everyday life is like in parts of Ukraine and what it means to help on the ground. How do fishnets help save lives? How have humanitarian needs evolved since the beginning of the war? How can a comparatively small Czech NGO have a big impact? And what motivates volunteers?

Czech election winner, Andrej Babiš, is fighting an uphill battle to form a government in the face of a major scandal involving one of his potential coalition partners. Filip Turek from the Motorists’ party, who was a hot candidate for the post of foreign minister, is being investigated for hate speech, with fresh allegations against him cropping up every day.

Czech President Petr Pavel delivered a speech at the Forum 2000 international conference in Prague on Monday. He addressed the security threat posed by Russia, which, according to Pavel, aims to dismantle Europe step by step. “Russia poses a fundamental threat to European freedom, security, and democracy,” the president stated.

Talks on forming a new Czech government have run into serious difficulties over two potential nominees from the Motorists’ party. While the likely future head of government, Andrej Babiš (ANO) would prefer for the party to nominate experts to its four allotted portfolios, the Motorists have made it clear that either their members get posts in the cabinet or the party goes into the opposition - a m...

A record number of young candidates won seats in the recent Czech parliamentary elections— a fourfold increase compared to the previous term. Why are young people suddenly gaining voter support? And what role do political youth organisations play in this?

At its founding, the Czech Pirate Party was meant to offer a center-left, progressive alternative in Czech politics, which has been mostly dominated by centrist and center-right views. But after a series of setbacks, from mismanaging building permit digitization efforts to failing to secure enough seats in the 2024 European Parliament elections, the Pirates reshuffled their leadership and distance...

In the newly elected Czech Chamber of Deputies, nearly one-third of the members will be women - a historic high for the country. What role did preferential voting play in boosting female candidates? And how significant is this shift compared to previous elections?