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The Spolu coalition aims to prioritize security and foreign policy in its campaign leading up to this year's parliamentary elections. In a video released on New Year's Day, Prime Minister Petr Fiala expanded on themes from his Christmas speech, addressing what he referred to as "fear mongers." He described the upcoming year as pivotal and framed it as a choice between the country's alignment with either the East or the West.
Political analysts suggest that Fiala is positioning himself as the primary challenger to ANO leader Andrej Babiš while implying that other parties cannot effectively oppose him. Analysts also anticipate that the opposition will concentrate on domestic issues.
Since July 30, 2024, when President Petr Pavel granted his first four pardons, the presidential office has received 426 pardon requests by the end of the year. No additional pardons have been granted since. In the final two months of 2024, the number of requests rose by nearly one-third.
Through pardons, the president has the authority to halt criminal proceedings, reduce or forgive sentences, or expunge convictions. Among Czech presidents, Václav Havel made the most extensive use of this power, granting 1,247 pardons and an additional 601 during his tenure as federal president. Václav Klaus issued 412 pardons, while Miloš Zeman granted 26, 17 of which occurred during his second term. In comparison, the last Communist president, Gustáv Husák, issued 2,028 pardons in 1988 alone.
A proposed amendment aims to enhance recruitment efforts and retain personnel in the Czech army. The changes include higher recruitment bonuses and benefits for soldiers, relaxed criminal record requirements for enlistment, and a new obligation for soldiers to report travel outside EU and NATO countries. The Ministry of Defense estimates the annual cost of these measures at 375 million crowns, which it plans to cover within its existing budget without seeking additional funding.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the amendment is vital for addressing staffing shortages and ensuring the army can fulfill its service obligations. The ministry is pushing for accelerated approval in the Chamber of Deputies, hoping to pass the law in its first reading and implement it by July 2025.
The amendment also introduces a lump-sum recruitment allowance and raises benefits for serving soldiers, including stabilization, housing, and service-abroad allowances. While the basic stabilization allowance will remain at 7,000 crowns per month, it could increase up to tenfold for specialized roles or activities.
As of early 2024, the army comprised 27,826 professional soldiers and 4,266 active reserve members. Plans aim to increase these numbers to 30,000 professionals and 10,000 reservists by 2030.
Starting today, gun dealers are required to report suspicious purchases to the police. This measure is part of an amendment to the gun law, introduced by lawmakers following last year's tragedy at Charles University in Prague. Additionally, dealers must monitor and report any concerning behavior exhibited by customers, such as confusion, apathy, or high levels of stress.
The Interior Ministry states that suspicious purchases can be reported via the 158 emergency line. The police have also set up a new toll-free 24-hour hotline for dealers, and reports can be made through an app within the Central Weapons Register.
One of Czechia's key railway junctions for both passenger and freight transport is about to undergo a major renovation that will span several years. Extensive work in Česká Třebová is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks. A similar renovation is also planned for the Hradec Králové railway station this year. The government has allocated 39 billion crowns for railway infrastructure investments in 2025, which includes the development of the initial sections of the "fast connections" network.
The Česká Třebová station is one of the largest rail yards in Europe, with several hundred trains passing through daily, and freight containers being transshipped here. The main corridors to Prague, Brno, and Olomouc also pass through this station.
A total of 160 billion CZK is allocated for transportation this year, with the majority directed towards the motorway network, which the government aims to complete by 2033. In the coming years, however, a greater share of public funds will be focused on rail transport.
The Plzeň region is set to provide a record amount of subsidies to small municipalities this year. With 211 million crowns allocated in the approved budget for regional development, this represents an 18.3 percent increase over last year. A key focus is the Rural Stabilization and Renewal Program (PSOV), which has received 120 million crowns, according to Deputy Governor Petr Vanka.
For many smaller municipalities, this is often their only source of support. Over 100 million crowns will be allocated to villages for the preservation of monuments and cultural projects.
Roads across the Czech Republic are passable but require caution, as some may be covered with packed or fresh snow. In the Krkonoše Mountains, 12 centimeters of snow fell overnight. In northern Bohemia, icy conditions at lower altitudes are causing difficult driving conditions on some road sections.
In the Olomouc Region, packed or slushy snow persists, particularly in the Jesenicko and Šumperk areas. Less frequented roads in the Přerov and Olomouc regions also have remnants of snow, with snowdrifts forming at higher elevations. Drivers on the D35 motorway, between Velký Újezd in the Olomouc region and Dolní Újezd in the Přerov region, are advised to be cautious due to icy surfaces.
Road workers are actively addressing these conditions and advising drivers to remain vigilant.
The weather will be mostly overcast, with snow moving in from the southwest. By the afternoon, the northeast will experience freezing rain, which will continue into the evening. Temperatures will range from -2°C to +2°C throughout the day.
Martin Palouš served as Czech ambassador to Washington, D.C., from 2001 to 2005 and later as the Czech ambassador to the United Nations in New York. After concluding his diplomatic career, he became the Director of Václav Havel Library and then the Director of the Václav Havel Program for Human Rights and Democracy at Florida International University.
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