Babiš admits catastrophic defeat in Senate run-offs
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The second round of Senate elections ended with the ruling ANO movement failing to win a single seat. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš described the result as catastrophic, a rare moment of public concession that saw the Mayors and Independents leader, Vít Rakušan, immediately stake his claim to the leadership of the opposition. The results suggest the electorate remains unmoved by the government’s recent efforts to consolidate its hold on the upper chamber.
In the city of Plzeň, the same rival parties found it easier to talk. ANO, STAN, and Pro Plzeň signed a coalition agreement that will reduce the number of city councilors and committees. While the national parties are at odds over the Senate, the local branches have decided that a leaner administration is more important than a public feud.
The Ministry of Education is reviewing data showing 830 school incidents involving child aggression in the first half of the year, a figure that includes cases of radicalization. Separately, a leaked recording has surfaced in a dairy scandal; it appears to show doctors discussing their financial ties to a manufacturer while suggesting that the presence of toxins in the products was a secondary issue.