Pensioners' rights spark outcry; budget talks secure social services.
Get European news in your inbox daily
A short daily digest of the whole continent — or just the countries you care about.
Check your email. We've sent a confirmation link — click it to complete your subscription.
A major controversy has erupted after entrepreneur Václav Dejčmar suggested limiting the voting rights of pensioners, drawing strong condemnation from the Czech Council of Seniors and prompting an apology from Dejčmar. This comes as the government continues its third day of budget discussions for 2027, with Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Aleš Juchelka confirming that funding for social services has been secured.
Meanwhile, a new report sheds light on the country's severe birth rate crisis, detailing the reasons as explained by the younger generation, a theme echoed in an opinion piece emphasizing children as a societal asset. In other news, the D1 highway near Prague is scheduled for a two-night closure for bridge load testing, and the city of Hradec Králové has fallen victim to a fraud scheme involving tens of millions of crowns.
Amidst these developments, Minister of Health Adam Vojtěch is pushing for healthcare efficiency reforms, with discussions also including proposals for increased patient co-payments. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has also weighed in on future healthcare infrastructure, indicating a preferred location for a new state superhospital.