Is Czech Republic's new PM Babi\u0161 Orb\u00e1n 2.0? It is not that simple<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//11//03//czech-election-winner-andrej-babis-signs-coalition-deal-with-right-wing-parties/">Czech election winner Andrej Babi\u0161 signs coalition deal with right-wing fringe parties<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Coalition members are also critical of the EU, rejecting policies particularly on environment and migration.<\/p>\n<p>\"An old ally has returned,\" Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb\u00e1n, who is widely considered Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2019s closest partner among EU leaders, said of Babi\u0161.<\/p>\n<p>After he lost the 2021 parliamentary election, Babi\u0161 was beaten by Pavel, a retired army general, in a vote for the largely ceremonial post of president.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//57//69//96//808x539_cmsv2_c8a851a2-8210-5866-bba7-6c2690c33a62-9576996.jpg/" alt=\"Thousands gather to mark three years since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Prague, 23 February, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/69\/96\/384x256_cmsv2_c8a851a2-8210-5866-bba7-6c2690c33a62-9576996.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/69\/96\/640x427_cmsv2_c8a851a2-8210-5866-bba7-6c2690c33a62-9576996.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/69\/96\/750x500_cmsv2_c8a851a2-8210-5866-bba7-6c2690c33a62-9576996.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/69\/96\/828x552_cmsv2_c8a851a2-8210-5866-bba7-6c2690c33a62-9576996.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/69\/96\/1080x720_cmsv2_c8a851a2-8210-5866-bba7-6c2690c33a62-9576996.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/69\/96\/1200x800_cmsv2_c8a851a2-8210-5866-bba7-6c2690c33a62-9576996.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/69\/96\/1920x1280_cmsv2_c8a851a2-8210-5866-bba7-6c2690c33a62-9576996.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Thousands gather to mark three years since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Prague, 23 February, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Babi\u0161, 71, was appointed prime minister after he met a condition set by Pavel and publicly announced that he would divest his major businesses to avoid conflict of interest arising from his private dealings and his political role.<\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161 owns around 200 companies under the Agrofert conglomerate. He said an independent trustee will oversee Agrofert in a trust fund, while it will remain under the control of an independent protector until he dies. His descendants will inherit it.<\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161 also owns a network of clinics and labs, while a close ally from ANO is a candidate for the post of health minister.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765289252,"updatedAt":1765291417,"publishedAt":1765291380,"firstPublishedAt":1765291380,"lastPublishedAt":1765291380,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/69\/96\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_57197052-9a99-556f-a3d1-f26c113513f4-9576996.jpg","altText":"Andrej Babi\u0161 arrives to be sworn in as the country's new prime minister at the Prague Castle in Prague, 9 December, 2025","caption":"Andrej Babi\u0161 arrives to be sworn in as the country's new prime minister at the Prague Castle in Prague, 9 December, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/69\/96\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c8a851a2-8210-5866-bba7-6c2690c33a62-9576996.jpg","altText":"Thousands gather to mark three years since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Prague, 23 February, 2025","caption":"Thousands gather to mark three years since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Prague, 23 February, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/69\/96\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_da936e16-015b-5643-82d8-bad70826c147-9576996.jpg","altText":"Andrej Babi\u0161 is sworn in as the country's new prime minister by Czech Republic's President Petr Pavel at the Prague Castle in Prague, 9 December, 2025","caption":"Andrej Babi\u0161 is sworn in as the country's new prime minister by Czech Republic's President Petr Pavel at the Prague Castle in Prague, 9 December, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":13502,"slug":"andrej-babis","urlSafeValue":"andrej-babis","title":"andrej babis","titleRaw":"andrej babis"},{"id":4671,"slug":"prime-minister","urlSafeValue":"prime-minister","title":"Prime Minister","titleRaw":"Prime Minister"},{"id":26692,"slug":"war-in-ukraine","urlSafeValue":"war-in-ukraine","title":"War in Ukraine","titleRaw":"War in 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It is not that simple","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Is Czech Republic's new PM Babi\u0161 Orb\u00e1n 2.0? It is not that simple","titleListing2":"Is Czechia's new PM an Orb\u00e1n 2.0? It is not that simple","leadin":"Andrej Babi\u0161 returns on Tuesday as the prime minister of the Czech Republic. He is more of a CEO than an ideologue.","summary":"Andrej Babi\u0161 returns on Tuesday as the prime minister of the Czech Republic. He is more of a CEO than an ideologue.","keySentence":"","url":"is-czech-republics-new-pm-babis-orban-20-it-is-not-that-simple","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/09\/is-czech-republics-new-pm-babis-orban-20-it-is-not-that-simple","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Got a painkiller? Because Brussels has a new migraine.\u00a0\n\nFirst it was Viktor Orb\u00e1n in Hungary. Then Robert Fico in Slovakia. Today, Andrej Babi\u0161 returns as the prime minister of the Czech Republic.\u00a0\n\nFollowing Babi\u0161' electoral victory, President Petr Pavel blocked his appointment until he agreed to transfer his massive chemical and food empire, Agrofert, to independent administrators.\u00a0\n\nTo rule, Babi\u0161 invited the Motorists, a fierce climate sceptic party, and the SPD, which openly opposes the EU and NATO.\u00a0\n\nHungarian prime minister's critics have been wondering, is Babi\u0161 Orb\u00e1n 2.0? Not quite.\u00a0\n\nOrb\u00e1n is an ideologue. Babi\u0161 is a CEO, though he says what people want to hear.\u00a0\n\nIn the new 16-member cabinet, the Motorists party gets four seats and the SPD gets three. But Babi\u0161 kept nine key posts \u2014 including his own seat \u2014 strictly for his people.\n\nIn corporate terms, he simply ensured he held the controlling interest to keep the hardliners in check.\u00a0\n\nBabi\u0161 talks tough on Ukraine support, yet experts say he will not stop Czech arms factories from selling ammunition to Kyiv. Why? Because it is a profitable business.\u00a0\n\nHe will fight the Green Deal, yes\u2014but mainly to protect the Czech car industry, which makes up 10% of the country's GDP and a quarter of exports.\u00a0\n\nFinally, he might threaten the EU house to get a better deal. But hopefully, he will not burn it down. He owns too much expensive furniture inside it.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Got a painkiller? Because Brussels has a new migraine. <\/p>\n<p>First it was Viktor Orb\u00e1n in Hungary. Then Robert Fico in Slovakia. Today, Andrej Babi\u0161 returns as the prime minister of the Czech Republic. <\/p>\n<p>Following Babi\u0161' electoral victory, President Petr Pavel blocked his appointment until he agreed to transfer his massive chemical and food empire, Agrofert, to independent administrators. <\/p>\n<p>To rule, Babi\u0161 invited the Motorists, a fierce climate sceptic party, and the SPD, which openly opposes the EU and NATO. <\/p>\n<p>Hungarian prime minister's critics have been wondering, is Babi\u0161 Orb\u00e1n 2.0? Not quite. <\/p>\n<p>Orb\u00e1n is an ideologue. Babi\u0161 is a CEO, though he says what people want to hear. <\/p>\n<p>In the new 16-member cabinet, the Motorists party gets four seats and the SPD gets three. But Babi\u0161 kept nine key posts \u2014 including his own seat \u2014 strictly for his people.<\/p>\n<p>In corporate terms, he simply ensured he held the controlling interest to keep the hardliners in check. <\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161 talks tough on Ukraine support, yet experts say he will not stop Czech arms factories from selling ammunition to Kyiv. Why? Because it is a profitable business. <\/p>\n<p>He will fight the Green Deal, yes\u2014but mainly to protect the Czech car industry, which makes up 10% of the country's GDP and a quarter of exports. <\/p>\n<p>Finally, he might threaten the EU house to get a better deal. But hopefully, he will not burn it down. He owns too much expensive furniture inside it. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765198238,"updatedAt":1765281738,"publishedAt":1765281698,"firstPublishedAt":1765281698,"lastPublishedAt":1765281698,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/54\/84\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_5b18c6f2-a6ca-576a-af5e-3a8f6362170b-9575484.jpg","altText":"JJ","caption":"JJ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"JJ","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1122}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3526,"urlSafeValue":"jakub.janas@ext.euronews.com","title":"Jakub Janas","twitter":null}],"producers":[{"id":3526,"urlSafeValue":"jakub.janas@ext.euronews.com","title":"Jakub Janas","twitter":null}],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":13502,"slug":"andrej-babis","urlSafeValue":"andrej-babis","title":"andrej babis","titleRaw":"andrej babis"},{"id":19328,"slug":"czechia","urlSafeValue":"czechia","title":" 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Austria","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"Thousands gather in Czech Republic to re-enact Napoleon\u2019s Austerlitz victory","leadin":"Thousands of re-enactors in the Czech Republic recreated Napoleon\u2019s 1805 victory at Austerlitz, drawing large crowds for the historic anniversary event.","summary":"Thousands of re-enactors in the Czech Republic recreated Napoleon\u2019s 1805 victory at Austerlitz, drawing large crowds for the historic anniversary event.","keySentence":"","url":"thousands-gather-in-czech-republic-to-re-enact-napoleons-austerlitz-victory-over-russia-an","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/11\/30\/thousands-gather-in-czech-republic-to-re-enact-napoleons-austerlitz-victory-over-russia-an","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Thousands of men and women in 19th-century uniforms, on horseback and on foot, battled on a field in the Czech Republic on Saturday, re-enacting Emperor Napoleon's triumph over Russia and Austria 220 years ago near Slavkov, Czech Republic.\n\nThe large-scale performance featured cavalry, infantry and cannon fire, drawing tens of thousands of spectators to the battlefield.\n\nThe 90-minute re-enactment recreated key moments of the battle, which originally lasted more than 10 hours.\n\nMark Schneider, an American who has portrayed Napoleon for two decades, participated for the final time this year.\n\nNapoleon led approximately 73,000 soldiers at Austerlitz, against more than 85,000 troops fighting for Russian Czar Alexander I and Austrian Emperor Francis I.\n\nFour days after its defeat, Austria was forced to sign a truce at the castle of Austerlitz.\n\nLater the same month, a peace treaty was signed in Pressburg \u2014 now the Slovak capital, Bratislava \u2014 which redrew the political map of Europe.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Thousands of men and women in 19th-century uniforms, on horseback and on foot, battled on a field in the Czech Republic on Saturday, re-enacting Emperor Napoleon's triumph over Russia and Austria 220 years ago near Slavkov, Czech Republic.<\/p>\n<p>The large-scale performance featured cavalry, infantry and cannon fire, drawing tens of thousands of spectators to the battlefield.<\/p>\n<p>The 90-minute re-enactment recreated key moments of the battle, which originally lasted more than 10 hours. <\/p>\n<p>Mark Schneider, an American who has portrayed Napoleon for two decades, participated for the final time this year.<\/p>\n<p>Napoleon led approximately 73,000 soldiers at Austerlitz, against more than 85,000 troops fighting for Russian Czar Alexander I and Austrian Emperor Francis I.<\/p>\n<p>Four days after its defeat, Austria was forced to sign a truce at the castle of Austerlitz.<\/p>\n<p>Later the same month, a peace treaty was signed in Pressburg \u2014 now the Slovak capital, Bratislava \u2014 which redrew the political map of Europe.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1764491086,"updatedAt":1764496822,"publishedAt":1764496429,"firstPublishedAt":1764496429,"lastPublishedAt":1764496429,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/56\/64\/75\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_7aea3adc-850e-5f34-a168-dc4148869cdf-9566475.jpg","altText":"History enthusiasts dressed in regimental costumes take part in a re-enactment of Napoleon's famous battle of Austerlitz, celebrating its 220th anniversary,","caption":"History enthusiasts dressed in regimental costumes take part in a re-enactment of Napoleon's famous battle of Austerlitz, celebrating its 220th anniversary,","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":21854,"slug":"napoleon","urlSafeValue":"napoleon","title":"Napoleon","titleRaw":"Napoleon"},{"id":239,"slug":"russia","urlSafeValue":"russia","title":"Russia","titleRaw":"Russia"},{"id":27520,"slug":"nuclear-war","urlSafeValue":"nuclear-war","title":"Nuclear war","titleRaw":"Nuclear war"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"kgP_ZHBqygs","dailymotionId":"x9upqxi"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/30\/52\/05\/03\/ED_PYR_3052053_20251130094434.mp4","editor":"","duration":120000,"filesizeBytes":19035236,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/30\/52\/05\/03\/SHD_PYR_3052053_20251130094434.mp4","editor":"","duration":120000,"filesizeBytes":28023069,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/30\/52\/05\/03\/FHD_PYR_3052053_20251130094434.mp4","editor":"","duration":120000,"filesizeBytes":93992289,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"nocomment","urlSafeValue":"nocomment","title":"No Comment","online":1,"url":"\/nocomment"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/video\/2025\/11\/30\/thousands-gather-in-czech-republic-to-re-enact-napoleons-austerlitz-victory-over-russia-an","lastModified":1764496429},{"id":2848140,"cid":9555243,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CZECH TRAIN COLLISION ","daletPyramidId":3364224,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Dozens injured after two trains collide in Czech Republic","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Dozens injured after two trains collide in Czech Republic","titleListing2":"Express train collides with passenger train in Czech Republic, dozens injured","leadin":"Two trains collided near \u010cesk\u00e9 Bud\u011bjovice, injuring dozens, with five seriously hurt. Czech Railways confirmed the crash during rush hour, halting rail traffic.","summary":"Two trains collided near \u010cesk\u00e9 Bud\u011bjovice, injuring dozens, with five seriously hurt. Czech Railways confirmed the crash during rush hour, halting rail traffic.","keySentence":"","url":"dozens-injured-after-two-trains-collide-in-czech-republic","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/11\/20\/dozens-injured-after-two-trains-collide-in-czech-republic","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Two trains collided near \u010cesk\u00e9 Bud\u011bjovice on Wednesday morning, leaving five people seriously injured and dozens more with minor injuries.\n\nThe R 658 express train struck the Os 8053 passenger train between Zliv\u00ed and D\u00edv\u010dice stations around 6:20 am, forcing authorities to halt rail traffic on the line and arrange replacement bus services.\n\nCzech Railways confirmed the collision involved two of its trains during morning rush hour, when services typically carry commuters heading to work.\n\nSeven rescue crews and a helicopter responded to the accident scene. \u010cesk\u00e9 Bud\u011bjovice hospital received five seriously injured passengers, according to spokeswoman Iva Nov\u00e1kov\u00e1 in a statement to Czech media.\n\nEmergency services initially reported two seriously injured and 42 with minor injuries before updating the figures.\n\nInvestigation launched into cause\n\nRailway investigators have arrived at the crash site to determine what caused the collision.\n\nJan Ku\u010dera, Inspector General of the Railway Inspection, said four inspectors are examining whether the incident resulted from human error, technical failure or systemic issues.\n\n\"The point is to find out what caused this extraordinary event,\" Ku\u010dera told national broadcaster \u010cT24.\n\nOne railway inspector happened to be travelling on the train during his commute from \u010cesk\u00e9 Bud\u011bjovice to Pilsen and was able to immediately assist with rescue efforts, Ku\u010dera added.\n\nCzech media reported that one driver may have run a signal prohibiting travel, with both trains allegedly spotting each other from several hundred metres away but unable to stop in time.\n\nThe railway line remains closed pending completion of the investigation and cleanup operations.\n\nThe accident is the latest in a string of railway-related incidents in central Europe in recent days.\n\nOn Sunday evening, 13 people were hospitalised after a train collision in neighbouring Slovakia. An investigation into the incident \u2014 the second in one month -- is ongoing.\n\nOn 13 October, two fast trains collided in eastern Slovakia, injuring dozens of passengers, including two who were in a critical condition.\n\nIn Poland, authorities said on Tuesday that Russian intelligence services orchestrated an explosion on a railway line used to transport aid to Ukraine, carried out by two Ukrainian nationals working as their agents.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Two trains collided near \u010cesk\u00e9 Bud\u011bjovice on Wednesday morning, leaving five people seriously injured and dozens more with minor injuries.<\/p>\n<p>The R 658 express train struck the Os 8053 passenger train between Zliv\u00ed and D\u00edv\u010dice stations around 6:20 am, forcing authorities to halt rail traffic on the line and arrange replacement bus services.<\/p>\n<p>Czech Railways confirmed the collision involved two of its trains during morning rush hour, when services typically carry commuters heading to work.<\/p>\n<p>Seven rescue crews and a helicopter responded to the accident scene. \u010cesk\u00e9 Bud\u011bjovice hospital received five seriously injured passengers, according to spokeswoman Iva Nov\u00e1kov\u00e1 in a statement to Czech media.<\/p>\n<p>Emergency services initially reported two seriously injured and 42 with minor injuries before updating the figures.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//55//52//43//808x539_cmsv2_11cd7fb2-e600-5a09-9dad-6118121547ea-9555243.jpg/" alt=\"The scene after an express train collided with a passenger train on the line between Zliv and Dívčice in the České Budějovice region, 20 November, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/52\/43\/384x256_cmsv2_11cd7fb2-e600-5a09-9dad-6118121547ea-9555243.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/52\/43\/640x427_cmsv2_11cd7fb2-e600-5a09-9dad-6118121547ea-9555243.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/52\/43\/750x500_cmsv2_11cd7fb2-e600-5a09-9dad-6118121547ea-9555243.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/52\/43\/828x552_cmsv2_11cd7fb2-e600-5a09-9dad-6118121547ea-9555243.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/52\/43\/1080x720_cmsv2_11cd7fb2-e600-5a09-9dad-6118121547ea-9555243.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/52\/43\/1200x800_cmsv2_11cd7fb2-e600-5a09-9dad-6118121547ea-9555243.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/52\/43\/1920x1280_cmsv2_11cd7fb2-e600-5a09-9dad-6118121547ea-9555243.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">The scene after an express train collided with a passenger train on the line between Zliv and Dívčice in the České Budějovice region, 20 November, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><strong>Investigation launched into cause<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Railway investigators have arrived at the crash site to determine what caused the collision. <\/p>\n<p>Jan Ku\u010dera, Inspector General of the Railway Inspection, said four inspectors are examining whether the incident resulted from human error, technical failure or systemic issues.<\/p>\n<p>\"The point is to find out what caused this extraordinary event,\" Ku\u010dera told national broadcaster \u010cT24.<\/p>\n<p>One railway inspector happened to be travelling on the train during his commute from \u010cesk\u00e9 Bud\u011bjovice to Pilsen and was able to immediately assist with rescue efforts, Ku\u010dera added.<\/p>\n<p>Czech media reported that one driver may have run a signal prohibiting travel, with both trains allegedly spotting each other from several hundred metres away but unable to stop in time.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//11//10//thirteen-remain-in-hospital-after-slovak-train-collision-health-minister-says/">Thirteen remain in hospital after Slovak train collision, health minister says<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//11//18//poland-suggests-russia-is-responsible-for-railway-blast-on-ukraine-delivery-line/">Poland blames Russian intelligence for blast on railway line to Ukraine<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The railway line remains closed pending completion of the investigation and cleanup operations. <\/p>\n<p>The accident is the latest in a string of railway-related incidents in central Europe in recent days.<\/p>\n<p>On Sunday evening, 13 people were hospitalised after a train collision in neighbouring Slovakia. An investigation into the incident \u2014 the second in one month -- is ongoing. <\/p>\n<p>On 13 October, two fast trains collided in eastern Slovakia, injuring dozens of passengers, including two who were in a critical condition.<\/p>\n<p>In Poland, authorities said on Tuesday that Russian intelligence services orchestrated an explosion on a railway line used to transport aid to Ukraine, carried out by two Ukrainian nationals working as their agents.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1763623611,"updatedAt":1763671027,"publishedAt":1763627483,"firstPublishedAt":1763627483,"lastPublishedAt":1763671026,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/52\/43\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0b9a8d2f-7a1d-5e1b-ac30-aad1cde6fc05-9555243.jpg","altText":"The scene after an express train collided with a passenger train on the line between Zliv and D\u00edv\u010dice in the \u010cesk\u00e9 Bud\u011bjovice region, 20 November, 2025","caption":"The scene after an express train collided with a passenger train on the line between Zliv and D\u00edv\u010dice in the \u010cesk\u00e9 Bud\u011bjovice region, 20 November, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/52\/43\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_11cd7fb2-e600-5a09-9dad-6118121547ea-9555243.jpg","altText":"The scene after an express train collided with a passenger train on the line between Zliv and D\u00edv\u010dice in the \u010cesk\u00e9 Bud\u011bjovice region, 20 November, 2025","caption":"The scene after an express train collided with a passenger train on the line between Zliv and D\u00edv\u010dice in the \u010cesk\u00e9 Bud\u011bjovice region, 20 November, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":7968,"slug":"train-crashes","urlSafeValue":"train-crashes","title":"Train crash","titleRaw":"Train crash"},{"id":4861,"slug":"accident","urlSafeValue":"accident","title":"Accident","titleRaw":"Accident"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2841585},{"id":2843664},{"id":2853193}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"6VlwNgIojxU","dailymotionId":"x9u4cb2"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/29\/76\/82\/03\/ED_PYR_2976823_20251120102329.mp4","editor":"","duration":65000,"filesizeBytes":12269584,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/29\/76\/82\/03\/SHD_PYR_2976823_20251120102329.mp4","editor":"","duration":65000,"filesizeBytes":17234208,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/29\/76\/82\/03\/FHD_PYR_2976823_20251120102329.mp4","editor":"","duration":65000,"filesizeBytes":52287335,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/11\/20\/dozens-injured-after-two-trains-collide-in-czech-republic","lastModified":1763671026},{"id":2847224,"cid":9551155,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Green Czechia nuclear power","daletPyramidId":3330136,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Europe's nuclear comeback: Czechia invests billions in reactors to replace coal dependence","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Czechia plans nuclear boost to ditch fossil fuels and cut emissions","titleListing2":"Europe's nuclear comeback: Czechia invests billions in reactors to replace coal dependence","leadin":"The country is hoping nuclear power will generate up to 60 per cent of its electricity by 2050.","summary":"The country is hoping nuclear power will generate up to 60 per cent of its electricity by 2050.","keySentence":"","url":"europes-nuclear-comeback-czechia-invests-billions-in-reactors-to-replace-coal-dependence","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/green\/2025\/11\/17\/europes-nuclear-comeback-czechia-invests-billions-in-reactors-to-replace-coal-dependence","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The eight huge cooling towers of the Dukovany power plant overlook a construction site for two more reactors as Czechia pushes ahead with plans to expand its reliance on nuclear energy.\n\nMobile drilling rigs have been extracting samples 140 metres below ground for a geological survey to make sure the site is suitable for a $19 billion (\u20ac16.4 billion) project as part of the expansion that should eventually at least double the country\u2019s nuclear output and cement its place among Europe\u2019s most nuclear-dependent nations.\n\nSouth Korea\u2019s KHNP beat France\u2019s EDF in a tender to construct a new plant whose two reactors will have an output of over 1,000 megawatts each. After becoming operational in the second half 2030s, they will complement Dukovany\u2019s four 512-MW reactors that date from the 1980s.\n\nThe KHNP deal gives the Czechs an option to have two more units built at the other nuclear plant in Temel\u00edn, which currently has two 1,000-megawatt reactors.\n\nThen, they are set to follow up with small modular nuclear reactors.\n\n\u201cNuclear will generate between 50 per cent and 60 per cent (of energy) around 2050 in the Czechia, or maybe slightly more,\" Petr Z\u00e1vodsk\u00fd, chief executive of the Dukovany project, told The Associated Press in an interview.\n\nThe nuclear expansion is needed to help the country wean itself off fossil fuels, secure steady, reliable supplies at a reasonable price, meet low-emission requirements, and enable robust demand for electricity expected in the coming years to power data centres and electric cars, Z\u00e1vodsk\u00fd said.\n\nEurope\u2019s nuclear revival\n\nThe Czech expansion comes at a time when surging energy demand and looming deadlines by countries and companies to sharply cut carbon pollution are helping to revive interest in nuclear technology.\n\nWhile nuclear power does produce waste, it does not produce greenhouse gas emissions, like carbon dioxide, the main driver of climate change.\n\nThe European Union has accepted nuclear energy by including it in the classification system for environmentally sustainable economic activities, opening the door to financing. That has been a boost for Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and France \u2014 the continent\u2019s nuclear leader \u2014 that have heavily relied on nuclear.\n\nBelgium and Sweden recently scrapped plans to phase out nuclear power. Denmark and Italy are reconsidering their use, while Poland is set to join a club of 12 nuclear-friendly nations in the European Union after signing a deal with US-based Westinghouse to build three nuclear units.\n\nThe EU generated 24 per cent of its electricity from nuclear electricity in 2024.\n\nBritain signed a cooperation deal with the United States in September that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said would lead to \u201ca golden age of nuclear in this country.\u201d\n\nIt will also invest \u00a314.2 billion (\u20ac16.1 billion) to build the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, the first in the UK since 1995.\n\nCEZ, the dominant Czech power company in which the government holds a 70 per cent stake, and Britain\u2019s Rolls-Royce SMR have agreed on a strategic partnership to develop and deploy small modular nuclear reactors.\n\nMoney matters\n\nThe cost of the Dukovany project is estimated at over \u20ac16 billion, with the government agreeing to acquire an 80 per cent majority in the new plant.\n\nThe government will secure a loan for the new units that CEZ will repay over 30 years. The state will also guarantee a stable income from the electricity production for CEZ for 40 years. Approval is expected to be granted by the EU, which aims to become \u201cclimate-neutral\u201d by 2050.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re in a good position to argue that we won\u2019t be able to do without new nuclear units,\u201d Z\u00e1vodsk\u00fd said.\n\n\u201cToday, we get some 40 per cent electricity from nuclear, but we also currently get another 40 per cent from coal. It\u2019s clear we have to replace the coal.\u201d\n\nCzechia is looking to phase out coal by 2033.\n\nUncertainty over financing has caused a significant delay in the nuclear expansion, however. In 2014, CEZ cancelled a tender to build two reactors at the existing Temelin nuclear plant after the government refused to provide financial guarantees.\n\nRussia\u2019s energy giant Rosatom and China\u2019s CNG were excluded from the Dukovany tender on security grounds following the Kremlin\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.\n\nCEZ signed a deal with Westinghouse and France\u2019s Framatome to supply nuclear fuel for its two nuclear plants, eliminating the country\u2019s dependence on Russia. The contract with KHNP secures fuel supplies for 10 years.\n\nOpposition to nuclear energy\n\nWhile atomic energy enjoys public support, sceptical voices can be heard at home and abroad.\n\nThe Friends of the Earth say it is too costly, and the money could be better used for improving the industry. The country also still does not have a permanent storage facility for spent fuel.\n\nThe Dukovany and Temel\u00edn plants are located near the border with Austria, which abandoned nuclear energy after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear explosion. In 2000, a dispute over the Temel\u00edn plant resulted in a political crisis and blocked border crossings for weeks.\n\nAustria remains the most nuclear-sceptical EU country, and its lower house of Parliament has already rejected the Czech small modular reactors plan.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The eight huge cooling towers of the Dukovany power plant overlook a construction site for two more reactors as Czechia pushes ahead with plans to expand its reliance on nuclear energy.<\/p>\n<p>Mobile drilling rigs have been extracting samples 140 metres below ground for a geological survey to make sure the site is suitable for a $19 billion (\u20ac16.4 billion) project as part of the expansion that should eventually at least double the country\u2019s nuclear output and cement its place among Europe\u2019s most nuclear-dependent nations.<\/p>\n<p>South Korea\u2019s KHNP beat France\u2019s EDF in a tender to construct a new plant whose two reactors will have an output of over 1,000 megawatts each. After becoming operational in the second half 2030s, they will complement Dukovany\u2019s four 512-MW reactors that date from the 1980s.<\/p>\n<p>The KHNP deal gives the Czechs an option to have two more units built at the other nuclear plant in Temel\u00edn, which currently has two 1,000-megawatt reactors.<\/p>\n<p>Then, they are set to follow up with small modular nuclear reactors.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNuclear will generate between 50 per cent and 60 per cent (of energy) around 2050 in the Czechia, or maybe slightly more,\" Petr Z\u00e1vodsk\u00fd, chief executive of the Dukovany project, told The Associated Press in an interview.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//11//13//world-has-virtually-exhausted-its-carbon-budget-as-fossil-fuel-emissions-reach-all-time-hi/">World has 'virtually exhausted' its carbon budget as fossil fuel emissions reach all-time high<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//11//14//fossil-fuel-lobbyists-outnumber-most-delegations-at-cop30-climate-talks-in-brazil/">Fossil fuel lobbyists outnumber most delegations at COP30 climate talks in Brazil<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The nuclear expansion is needed to help the country wean itself off <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//11//14//fossil-fuel-lobbyists-outnumber-most-delegations-at-cop30-climate-talks-in-brazil/">fossil fuels,<\/strong><\/a> secure steady, reliable supplies at a reasonable price, meet low-emission requirements, and enable robust demand for electricity expected in the coming years to power data centres and electric cars, Z\u00e1vodsk\u00fd said.<\/p>\n<h2>Europe\u2019s nuclear revival<\/h2>\n<p>The Czech expansion comes at a time when surging energy demand and looming deadlines by countries and companies to<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//11//13//world-has-virtually-exhausted-its-carbon-budget-as-fossil-fuel-emissions-reach-all-time-hi/"> <strong>sharply cut carbon pollution<\/strong><\/a> are helping to revive interest in nuclear technology. <\/p>\n<p>While nuclear power does produce waste, it does not produce greenhouse gas emissions, like carbon dioxide, the main driver of climate change.<\/p>\n<p>The European Union has accepted nuclear energy by including it in the classification system for environmentally sustainable economic activities, opening the door to financing. That has been a boost for Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and France \u2014 the continent\u2019s nuclear leader \u2014 that have heavily relied on nuclear.<\/p>\n<p>Belgium and Sweden recently scrapped plans to phase out nuclear power. Denmark and Italy are reconsidering their use, while <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//08//28//poland-to-build-europes-first-of-its-kind-small-scale-nuclear-power-plant-in-wloclawek/">Poland is set to join a club of 12 nuclear-friendly nations in the European Union after signing a deal with US-based Westinghouse to build three nuclear units.<\/p>\n<p>The EU generated 24 per cent of its electricity from nuclear electricity in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Britain signed a cooperation deal with the United States in September that Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said would lead to \u201ca golden age of nuclear in this country.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>It will also invest \u00a314.2 billion (\u20ac16.1 billion) to build the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, the first in the UK since 1995.<\/p>\n<p>CEZ, the dominant Czech power company in which the government holds a 70 per cent stake, and Britain\u2019s Rolls-Royce SMR have agreed on a strategic partnership to develop and deploy small modular nuclear reactors.<\/p>\n<h2>Money matters<\/h2>\n<p>The cost of the Dukovany project is estimated at over \u20ac16 billion, with the government agreeing to acquire an 80 per cent majority in the new plant. <\/p>\n<p>The government will secure a loan for the new units that CEZ will repay over 30 years. The state will also guarantee a stable income from the electricity production for CEZ for 40 years. Approval is expected to be granted by the EU, which aims to become \u201cclimate-neutral\u201d by 2050.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re in a good position to argue that we won\u2019t be able to do without new nuclear units,\u201d Z\u00e1vodsk\u00fd said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cToday, we get some 40 per cent electricity from nuclear, but we also currently get another 40 per cent from coal. It\u2019s clear we have to replace the coal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Czechia is looking to <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//03//05//the-czech-republic-is-getting-serious-about-the-energy-transition/">phase out coal<\/strong> <\/a>by 2033.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//11//11//how-much-hotter-is-the-world-since-the-paris-agreement-heres-what-a-decade-of-data-shows/">How much hotter is the world since the Paris Agreement? Here's what a decade of data shows<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//11//11//have-chinas-carbon-emissions-peaked-new-analysis-shows-they-havent-risen-in-18-months/">Have China\u2019s carbon emissions peaked? New analysis shows they haven\u2019t risen in 18 months<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Uncertainty over financing has caused a significant delay in the nuclear expansion, however. In 2014, CEZ cancelled a tender to build two reactors at the existing Temelin nuclear plant after the government refused to provide financial guarantees.<\/p>\n<p>Russia\u2019s energy giant Rosatom and China\u2019s CNG were excluded from the Dukovany tender on security grounds following the Kremlin\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>CEZ signed a deal with Westinghouse and France\u2019s Framatome to supply nuclear fuel for its two nuclear plants, eliminating the country\u2019s dependence on Russia. The contract with KHNP secures fuel supplies for 10 years.<\/p>\n<h2>Opposition to nuclear energy<\/h2>\n<p>While atomic energy enjoys public support, sceptical voices can be heard at home and abroad.<\/p>\n<p>The Friends of the Earth say it is too costly, and the money could be better used for improving the industry. The country also still does not have a permanent storage facility for spent fuel.<\/p>\n<p>The Dukovany and Temel\u00edn plants are located near the border with Austria, which abandoned nuclear energy after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear explosion. In 2000, a dispute over the Temel\u00edn plant resulted in a political crisis and blocked border crossings for weeks.<\/p>\n<p><a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//09//10//austrias-push-to-scrap-nuclear-from-taxonomy-snubbed-by-eu-court/">Austria remains the most nuclear-sceptical EU country, and its lower house of Parliament has already rejected the Czech small modular reactors plan.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1763368622,"updatedAt":1763383925,"publishedAt":1763371034,"firstPublishedAt":1763371034,"lastPublishedAt":1763371034,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/55\/11\/55\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b75fbc7f-db04-52a3-bc04-2072f424510a-9551155.jpg","altText":"People fish near the towering Dukovany nuclear power plant, background, in Dukovany, Czech Republic.","caption":"People fish near the towering Dukovany nuclear power plant, background, in Dukovany, Czech Republic.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Petr David Josek","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":24556,"slug":"nuclear","urlSafeValue":"nuclear","title":"nuclear","titleRaw":"nuclear"},{"id":9385,"slug":"fossil-fuels","urlSafeValue":"fossil-fuels","title":"Fossil fuels","titleRaw":"Fossil fuels"},{"id":19206,"slug":"nuclear-power-plant","urlSafeValue":"nuclear-power-plant","title":"Nuclear power plant","titleRaw":"Nuclear power plant"},{"id":24324,"slug":"carbon-emissions","urlSafeValue":"carbon-emissions","title":"carbon emissions","titleRaw":"carbon emissions"},{"id":7812,"slug":"sweden","urlSafeValue":"sweden","title":"Sweden","titleRaw":"Sweden"},{"id":7800,"slug":"united-kingdom","urlSafeValue":"united-kingdom","title":"United Kingdom","titleRaw":"United Kingdom"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":2}],"related":[{"id":2847223},{"id":2847981}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"KAREL JANICEK","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"green-news","urlSafeValue":"green-news","title":"Green News","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/green\/green-news\/green-news"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"green","verticals":[{"id":8,"slug":"green","urlSafeValue":"green","title":"Green"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":8,"slug":"green","urlSafeValue":"green","title":"Green"},"themes":[{"id":"green-news","urlSafeValue":"green-news","title":"Green News","url":"\/green\/green-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":35,"urlSafeValue":"green-news","title":"Green News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/green\/2025\/11\/17\/europes-nuclear-comeback-czechia-invests-billions-in-reactors-to-replace-coal-dependence","lastModified":1763371034},{"id":2840016,"cid":9519307,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":1,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"ME - S01E02 - PRUSA RESEARCH - MASTER","daletPyramidId":3052267,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Josef Pr\u016f\u0161a: The Czech Visionary Printing Europe\u2019s Future in 3D","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"Josef Pr\u016f\u0161a: The Czech Visionary Printing Europe\u2019s Future in 3D","leadin":"From a student tinkering with music gear to a European tech icon, Josef Pr\u016f\u0161a has turned his creativity into a global 3D-printing powerhouse.","summary":"From a student tinkering with music gear to a European tech icon, Josef Pr\u016f\u0161a has turned his creativity into a global 3D-printing powerhouse.","keySentence":"","url":"josef-prusa-the-czech-visionary-printing-europes-future-in-3d","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/11\/07\/josef-prusa-the-czech-visionary-printing-europes-future-in-3d","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"\u201cI was into live music performances, I needed knobs and faders, and I decided to build a self-replicating 3D printer,\u201d recalls Pr\u016f\u0161a. \u201cMy design quickly became a de facto standard.\u201d\n\nIn 2012, he dropped out of university to establish Prusa Research.\n\nToday, the Prague-based company, which has expanded to the United States, employs 1,200 people, exports to all continents, and generates over \u20ac160 million annually.\n\nJosef Pr\u016f\u0161a\u2019s award winning printers serve global firms such as Philips, Mercedes, FB or SpaceX, leading research institutes such as the MIT or CERN, and even NASA.\n\nAlso used by scores of small businesses and startups, his machines have fueled other Czech success stories. Software firm Sensio.cz. used them to create MyCello\u2014and became Europe\u2019s largest producer of electric cellos.\n\nPrague\u2019s hype And\u011blsk\u00fd Pivovar brewery also uses Prusa printers to make promotional items and equipment parts\u2014cutting costs while keeping production in-house.\n\nEmpowering Local Innovation\n\nListed as the 99th richest Czech by Forbes magazine, Josef Pr\u016f\u0161a believes 3D printing can help \u201cbring manufacturing back to Europe,\u201d helping entrepreneurs to innovate locally at affordable costs.\n\n\u201cThe same machine can power a hobby\u2014or a company of 100,000 people,\u201d says Pr\u016f\u0161a. \u201cIt is truly limitless.\u201d\n\n","htmlText":"<p>\u201cI was into live music performances, I needed knobs and faders, and I decided to build a self-replicating 3D printer,\u201d recalls Pr\u016f\u0161a. \u201cMy design quickly became a de facto standard.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In 2012, he dropped out of university to establish <strong>Prusa Research<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Today, the Prague-based company, which has expanded to the United States, employs <strong>1,200 people<\/strong>, exports <strong>to all continents<\/strong>, and generates <strong>over \u20ac160 million annually<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Josef Pr\u016f\u0161a\u2019s award winning printers serve global firms such as Philips, Mercedes, FB or SpaceX, leading research institutes such as the MIT or CERN, and even NASA.<\/p>\n<p>Also used by scores of small businesses and startups, his machines have fueled other Czech success stories. Software firm <strong>Sensio.cz<\/strong>. used them to create <em>MyCello<\/em>\u2014and became <strong>Europe\u2019s largest producer of electric cellos<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Prague\u2019s hype <strong>And\u011blsk\u00fd Pivovar<\/strong> brewery also uses Prusa printers to make promotional items and equipment parts\u2014cutting costs while keeping production in-house.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Empowering Local Innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Listed as the 99th richest Czech by Forbes magazine, Josef Pr\u016f\u0161a believes 3D printing can help <em>\u201cbring manufacturing back to Europe,\u201d<\/em> helping entrepreneurs <strong>to<\/strong> innovate locally at affordable costs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe same machine can power a hobby\u2014or a company of 100,000 people,\u201d says Pr\u016f\u0161a. \u201cIt is truly limitless.\u201d<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1760960338,"updatedAt":1762539611,"publishedAt":1762539329,"firstPublishedAt":1762539329,"lastPublishedAt":1762539610,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/51\/94\/06\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_1d3e0ef5-3ca3-55ee-91b3-436d104746fb-9519406.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[{"id":28,"urlSafeValue":"gauriat","title":"Val\u00e9rie Gauriat","twitter":"@valgauriat"}],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":15550,"slug":"innovation","urlSafeValue":"innovation","title":"innovation","titleRaw":"innovation"},{"id":23650,"slug":"3d","urlSafeValue":"3d","title":"3d","titleRaw":"3d"},{"id":4595,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","titleRaw":"Business"},{"id":389,"slug":"technology","urlSafeValue":"technology","title":"Technology","titleRaw":"Technology"},{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"}],"widgets":[],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"r4a0Vo43e0A","dailymotionId":"x9tb8ta"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/27\/29\/13\/03\/ED_PYR_2729133_20251106130840.mp4","editor":"","duration":480000,"filesizeBytes":64818590,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/27\/29\/13\/03\/SHD_PYR_2729133_20251106130840.mp4","editor":"","duration":480000,"filesizeBytes":101258894,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/27\/29\/13\/03\/FHD_PYR_2729133_20251106130840.mp4","editor":"","duration":480000,"filesizeBytes":365654146,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"made-in-europe","urlSafeValue":"made-in-europe","title":"Made in Europe","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/my-europe-series\/made-in-europe"},"season":"MADE IN EUROPE_S01","episode":"S01E02 - PRUSA RESEARCH","episodeId":"1029","vertical":"my-europe","verticals":[{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},"themes":[{"id":"my-europe-series","urlSafeValue":"my-europe-series","title":"My Europe Series","url":"\/my-europe\/my-europe-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":60,"urlSafeValue":"my-europe-series","title":"Europe Series"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/my-europe\/2025\/11\/07\/josef-prusa-the-czech-visionary-printing-europes-future-in-3d","lastModified":1762539610},{"id":2843664,"cid":9535244,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CZECH COALITION DEAL","daletPyramidId":3193477,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Czech election winner Andrej Babi\u0161 signs coalition deal with right-wing fringe parties","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Babi\u0161 to form new Czech government after right-wing coalition deal","titleListing2":"Czech election winner Andrej Babi\u0161 signs coalition deal with right-wing fringe parties","leadin":"The announcement comes after the Czech Republic\u2019s president asked Babi\u0161 to form a new government after his party's victory in last month\u2019s parliamentary elections.","summary":"The announcement comes after the Czech Republic\u2019s president asked Babi\u0161 to form a new government after his party's victory in last month\u2019s parliamentary elections.","keySentence":"","url":"czech-election-winner-andrej-babis-signs-coalition-deal-with-right-wing-parties","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/11\/03\/czech-election-winner-andrej-babis-signs-coalition-deal-with-right-wing-parties","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Czech billionaire and Prime Minister-designate Andrej Babi\u0161 signed a coalition deal with right-wing allies on Monday, bringing him a step closer to taking the seat once again.\n\nHis ANO (Yes) party has teamed up with the climate change sceptics, the Motorists party, and the SPD (Freedom and Direct Democracy), which is against the EU and NATO.\n\nHe said he aims to form a government by mid-December.\n\nThe announcement comes after the Czech Republic's president asked Babi\u0161 to form a new government after his party's victory in\u00a0last month\u2019s parliamentary elections.\n\nPresident Petr Pavel made the announcement after meeting\u00a0Babi\u0161, whose ANO party staged a political comeback in the 3-4 October ballot.\n\nBabi\u0161 promised to present the coalition agreement and its priorities later this week, Pavel said in a statement.\n\nThe parties have agreed to create a 16-member cabinet with ANO holding eight posts plus the prime minister. The Motorists would have four and the SPD three.\n\nBabi\u0161 and ANO won 34.51% of the vote, soundly beating the pro-Western conservative coalition led by outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala.\n\nThe new three-party partnership would hold 108 seats in the 200-seat lower house of Parliament, relegating Fiala to the opposition.\n\nBabi\u0161's return, backed by fringe eurosceptic parties, could weaken support for Ukraine's defence against Russia's full-scale invasion, and he has already announced he would end any aid to Kyiv coming from Prague.\n\nBabi\u0161, who is 71, has already served as prime minister of the Czech Republic from 2017 to 2021.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Czech billionaire and Prime Minister-designate Andrej Babi\u0161 signed a coalition deal with right-wing allies on Monday, bringing him a step closer to taking the seat once again.<\/p>\n<p>His ANO (Yes) party has teamed up with the climate change sceptics, the Motorists party, and the SPD (Freedom and Direct Democracy), which is against the EU and NATO.<\/p>\n<p>He said he aims to form a government by mid-December.<\/p>\n<p>The announcement comes after the Czech Republic's president asked Babi\u0161 to form a new government after his party's victory in last month\u2019s parliamentary elections.<\/p>\n<p>President Petr Pavel made the announcement after meeting Babi\u0161, whose ANO party staged a political comeback in the 3-4 October ballot.<\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161 promised to present the coalition agreement and its priorities later this week, Pavel said in a statement.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//53//52//44//808x539_cmsv2_be6d7827-c44b-54a5-8e18-5b88b47b50a8-9535244.jpg/" alt=\"A man casts his ballot for a general election at a polling station in Ostrava, 3 October, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/52\/44\/384x256_cmsv2_be6d7827-c44b-54a5-8e18-5b88b47b50a8-9535244.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/52\/44\/640x427_cmsv2_be6d7827-c44b-54a5-8e18-5b88b47b50a8-9535244.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/52\/44\/750x500_cmsv2_be6d7827-c44b-54a5-8e18-5b88b47b50a8-9535244.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/52\/44\/828x552_cmsv2_be6d7827-c44b-54a5-8e18-5b88b47b50a8-9535244.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/52\/44\/1080x720_cmsv2_be6d7827-c44b-54a5-8e18-5b88b47b50a8-9535244.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/52\/44\/1200x800_cmsv2_be6d7827-c44b-54a5-8e18-5b88b47b50a8-9535244.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/52\/44\/1920x1280_cmsv2_be6d7827-c44b-54a5-8e18-5b88b47b50a8-9535244.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A man casts his ballot for a general election at a polling station in Ostrava, 3 October, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The parties have agreed to create a 16-member cabinet with ANO holding eight posts plus the prime minister. The Motorists would have four and the SPD three.<\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161 and ANO won 34.51% of the vote, soundly beating the pro-Western conservative coalition led by outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala.<\/p>\n<p>The new three-party partnership would hold 108 seats in the 200-seat lower house of Parliament, relegating Fiala to the opposition.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//10//06//czech-elections-babis-will-pave-his-own-way-in-the-eu-observers-say/">Czech elections: Babi\u0161 will pave his own way in the EU, observers say<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//10//05//babis-pledges-loyalty-to-europe-as-czech-coalition-talks-begin/">Babi/u0161 pledges loyalty to Europe as Czech coalition talks begin <\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Babi\u0161's return, backed by fringe eurosceptic parties, could weaken support for Ukraine's defence against Russia's full-scale invasion, and he has already announced he would end any aid to Kyiv coming from Prague.<\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161, who is 71, has already served as prime minister of the Czech Republic from 2017 to 2021.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1762188065,"updatedAt":1762202123,"publishedAt":1762190176,"firstPublishedAt":1762190176,"lastPublishedAt":1762198321,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/52\/44\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b4dff27f-93a2-58ec-9231-ad7400defe03-9535244.jpg","altText":"Andrej Babi\u0161 leaves after talking with President Petr Pavel a day after he won the parliamentary elections in Prague, 5 October, 2025","caption":"Andrej Babi\u0161 leaves after talking with President Petr Pavel a day after he won the parliamentary elections in Prague, 5 October, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/53\/52\/44\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_be6d7827-c44b-54a5-8e18-5b88b47b50a8-9535244.jpg","altText":"A man casts his ballot for a general election at a polling station in Ostrava, 3 October, 2025","caption":"A man casts his ballot for a general election at a polling station in Ostrava, 3 October, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":10653,"slug":"czech-politics","urlSafeValue":"czech-politics","title":"Czech politics","titleRaw":"Czech politics"},{"id":13502,"slug":"andrej-babis","urlSafeValue":"andrej-babis","title":"andrej babis","titleRaw":"andrej babis"},{"id":105,"slug":"european-union","urlSafeValue":"european-union","title":"European Union","titleRaw":"European Union"},{"id":205,"slug":"nato","urlSafeValue":"nato","title":"NATO","titleRaw":"NATO"},{"id":26692,"slug":"war-in-ukraine","urlSafeValue":"war-in-ukraine","title":"War in Ukraine","titleRaw":"War in Ukraine"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2836215},{"id":2852856}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"dailymotionId":"x9t5bki"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/28\/43\/53\/04\/ED_PYR_2843534_20251103203525.mp4","editor":"","duration":80000,"filesizeBytes":14234094,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/28\/43\/53\/04\/SHD_PYR_2843534_20251103203525.mp4","editor":"","duration":80000,"filesizeBytes":20210769,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/28\/43\/53\/04\/FHD_PYR_2843534_20251103203525.mp4","editor":"","duration":80000,"filesizeBytes":63195343,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":{"id":2062,"urlSafeValue":"prague","title":"Prague"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/11\/03\/czech-election-winner-andrej-babis-signs-coalition-deal-with-right-wing-parties","lastModified":1762198321},{"id":2840246,"cid":9520727,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NEXT PRAGUE E-SCOOTER","daletPyramidId":3061386,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Prague to ban e-scooters from 2026 amid \u2018chaos on sidewalks\u2019","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Prague to ban e-scooters from 2026 amid \u2018chaos on sidewalks\u2019","titleListing2":"Prague to ban e-scooters from 2026 amid \u2018chaos on sidewalks\u2019","leadin":"The Czech capital joins Madrid and Paris in banning electric scooters.","summary":"The Czech capital joins Madrid and Paris in banning electric scooters.","keySentence":"","url":"prague-to-ban-e-scooters-from-2026-amid-chaos-on-sidewalks","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/next\/2025\/10\/21\/prague-to-ban-e-scooters-from-2026-amid-chaos-on-sidewalks","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Prague will ban electric scooters next year, making it the latest European city to crack down on the tourist-friendly mode of transport.\n\nCity councillors adopted a new measure on Monday that will overhaul shared transport rules and govern where bikes, both pedal and electric, can be parked in the Czech capital. Shared e-scooters were omitted from the rules, which will effectively end access to them beginning in January.\n\n\"The end of electric scooters approved!\" Zden\u011bk H\u0159ib, chair of the national Pirate party and deputy mayor in charge of city transport, said on the social media platform X.\n\n\"We are introducing clear rules that will clear public space from uncontrolled scooter traffic, which was often used in the city centre more as a tourist attraction than a means of transport and caused chaos on sidewalks and in pedestrian zones,\u201d H\u0159ib added.\n\nThe citywide initiative follows local efforts to curb the number of e-scooters zipping through Prague. They were already banned in a busy part of the city centre where residents had raised safety concerns.\n\nOther European cities have also tightened rules on e-scooters, and Paris and Madrid have banned them entirely.\n\nLime, which has offered e-scooters and e-bikes in Prague for years, pushed back against the assertions that e-scooters are a net-negative for locals.\n\nV\u00e1clav Petr, who directs Lime operations in the Czech Republic and Hungary, told Euronews Next in a statement that the company is \"disappointed\" in the councillors' decision.\n\nHe said Lime's e-scooters have \"provided thousands of people in Prague with a flexible, sustainable, and accessible way to get around the city\" and that the ban represented a \"drastic step\".\n\n\"We will now focus on expanding our e-bike operations in Prague and working closely with the city to implement clear, future-oriented rules for shared micromobility,\" Petr said.\n\nUpdated 21 October: This story has been updated with a comment from Lime.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Prague will ban electric scooters next year, making it the latest European city to crack down on the tourist-friendly mode of transport.<\/p>\n<p>City councillors adopted a new measure on Monday that will overhaul shared transport rules and govern where bikes, both pedal and electric, can be parked in the Czech capital. Shared e-scooters were omitted from the rules, which will effectively end access to them beginning in January.<\/p>\n<p>\"The end of electric scooters approved!\" Zden\u011bk H\u0159ib, chair of the national Pirate party and deputy mayor in charge of city transport, said on the social media platform X.<\/p>\n<p>\"We are introducing clear rules that will clear public space from uncontrolled scooter traffic, which was often used in the city centre more as a tourist attraction than a means of transport and caused chaos on sidewalks and in pedestrian zones,\u201d H\u0159ib added.<\/p>\n<p>The citywide initiative follows local efforts to curb the number of e-scooters zipping through Prague. They were already banned in a busy part of the city centre where residents had raised safety concerns.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//next//2025//07//07//lime-withdraws-from-brussels-as-belgian-capital-puts-brakes-on-e-bikes-and-scooters/">Lime withdraws from Brussels as Belgian capital puts brakes on e-bikes and scooters<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Other European cities have also tightened rules on e-scooters, and Paris and Madrid have banned them entirely.<\/p>\n<p>Lime, which has offered e-scooters and e-bikes in Prague for years, pushed back against the assertions that e-scooters are a net-negative for locals.<\/p>\n<p>V\u00e1clav Petr, who directs Lime operations in the Czech Republic and Hungary, told Euronews Next in a statement that the company is \"disappointed\" in the councillors' decision.<\/p>\n<p>He said Lime's e-scooters have \"provided thousands of people in Prague with a flexible, sustainable, and accessible way to get around the city\" and that the ban represented a \"drastic step\".<\/p>\n<p>\"We will now focus on expanding our e-bike operations in Prague and working closely with the city to implement clear, future-oriented rules for shared micromobility,\" Petr said.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Updated 21 October: This story has been updated with a comment from Lime.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1761036005,"updatedAt":1761073082,"publishedAt":1761036479,"firstPublishedAt":1761036479,"lastPublishedAt":1761040996,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/07\/27\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_693b1022-536d-5f52-9501-452a86e3cfc7-9520727.jpg","altText":"A man stands on a Lime e-scooter in Paris in 2018.","caption":"A man stands on a Lime e-scooter in Paris in 2018.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Michel Euler\/AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1125}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3108,"urlSafeValue":"galvin","title":"Gabriela Galvin","twitter":"@mg_galvin"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":20608,"slug":"e-scooter","urlSafeValue":"e-scooter","title":"e-scooter","titleRaw":"e-scooter"},{"id":20174,"slug":"e-mobility","urlSafeValue":"e-mobility","title":"e-mobility","titleRaw":"e-mobility"},{"id":24850,"slug":"pedestrians","urlSafeValue":"pedestrians","title":"pedestrians","titleRaw":"pedestrians"},{"id":2062,"slug":"prague","urlSafeValue":"prague","title":"Prague","titleRaw":"Prague"},{"id":21808,"slug":"transportation","urlSafeValue":"transportation","title":"transportation","titleRaw":"transportation"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2840317},{"id":2840428}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"mobility","urlSafeValue":"mobility","title":"Mobility","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/next\/mobility\/mobility"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"next","verticals":[{"id":9,"slug":"next","urlSafeValue":"next","title":"Next"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":9,"slug":"next","urlSafeValue":"next","title":"Next"},"themes":[{"id":"mobility","urlSafeValue":"mobility","title":"Mobility","url":"\/next\/mobility"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":45,"urlSafeValue":"mobility","title":"Mobility"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":{"id":2062,"urlSafeValue":"prague","title":"Prague"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/next\/2025\/10\/21\/prague-to-ban-e-scooters-from-2026-amid-chaos-on-sidewalks","lastModified":1761040996},{"id":2836555,"cid":9498309,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CZECH ELEX EU RELATIONS EXPERTS ","daletPyramidId":2912602,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Czech elections: Babi\u0161 will pave his own way in the EU, observers say","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Czech elections: Babi\u0161 will pave his own way in the EU, observers say","titleListing2":"Czech elections: Babi\u0161 will pave his own way in the EU, observers say","leadin":"According to European political observers, if Babi\u0161 is confirmed as the next Czech PM, Brussels could be in for a stronger central European alliance with Orb\u00e1n and Fico. However, they believe the billionaire-turned-politician will remain pragmatic when it comes to the EU and supporting Ukraine.","summary":"According to European political observers, if Babi\u0161 is confirmed as the next Czech PM, Brussels could be in for a stronger central European alliance with Orb\u00e1n and Fico. However, they believe the billionaire-turned-politician will remain pragmatic when it comes to the EU and supporting Ukraine.","keySentence":"","url":"czech-elections-babis-will-pave-his-own-way-in-the-eu-observers-say","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/10\/06\/czech-elections-babis-will-pave-his-own-way-in-the-eu-observers-say","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Czech billionaire businessman Andrej Babi\u0161 is expected to move to form a government in Prague after his catch-all ANO party won 35 % of the votes at the general elections, in a significant political shift for central and eastern Europe as well as the EU as a whole.\n\nBabi\u0161 does not have a majority alone in the parliament, and he is likely to open coalition talks with the anti-Green Deal Motorists for Themselves and the anti-immigrant Freedom and Direct Democracy party, or attempt to form a minority government.\n\nThe European political scene is now gauging to what extent the twice-former Czech prime minister\u2019s election campaign statements and political views could turn into concrete action and in which direction.\n\nEuronews reached out to political analyst Ji\u0159\u00ed Pehe, the director of the New York University in Prague, and to D\u00e1niel Heged\u0171s, the regional director of the German Marshall Fund of the US, to discuss the potential shift in EU-Czech relations in case of Babi\u0161 becoming the Czech Republic's new prime minister.\n\n'No Czexit in sight, more anti-EU rhetoric expected'\n\nBoth experts said that, despite calls from the far right for a referendum on the country's EU and NATO membership, Babi\u0161 is committed to maintaining the euro-Atlantic ties.\n\n\"Babi\u0161 has said very clearly that he does not want to leave the European Union and NATO, and he's even refusing a referendum on Czexit and on leaving NATO, which really puts him on a collision course with the Freedom and Direct Democracy Party, which is demanding a referendum,\" Ji\u0159\u00ed Pehe said.\n\nPehe sees the politician to be more pragmatic in the European Union than Hungary's PM Viktor Orb\u00e1n or Slovakia's Robert Fico. He reminded that Babi\u0161 has many companies in western Europe which receive EU subsidies.\n\n\"He doesn't want to go into an open war with the European Union. So we will probably see a lot of anti-EU rhetoric and criticism at home, but when he goes to Brussels, he will not create the same kinds of conflict that we see in the case of Orb\u00e1n, for example,\" Pehe said.\n\nHeged\u0171s agreed that Babi\u0161, a supporter of US President Donald Trump who has handed out MAGA-like \"Strong Czechia\" hats to his voters, will insist on his country's membership in the EU and NATO, adding that the Czech politician has no far-right mindset.\n\n\"Babi\u0161 is not necessarily someone with very pro-Russian or pro-Chinese policies. He's not an ideologue. He doesn't even necessarily have a far-right mindset,\" Heged\u0171s said.\n\nIn Heged\u0171s' words, Babi\u0161 is \"a populist entrepreneur, both in a political and business sense, and most of his business interests are in western Europe.\"\n\nPresident Petr Pavel, who must approve the future cabinet according to Czech law, has already stated that he will not endorse any ministers questioning the country's EU membership.\n\nA possible Orb\u00e1n-Babi\u0161 axis to challenge Brussels\n\nHungary's right-wing, eurosceptic PM Orb\u00e1n welcomed Babi\u0161' election victory. The two politicians are friends and political allies, and their parties sit in the same European Parliament political group, Patriots for Europe (PfE).\n\nIf Babi\u0161 succeeds in forming a government, the PfE would have two prime ministers at the European Council.\n\nHeged\u0171s estimated that the expectations that Babi\u0161 could form a central European alliance with Orb\u00e1n and Slovakia's Fico to slow down future EU decision-making are half-guaranteed.\n\n\"Of course, we know that Babi\u0161 has a critical position about certain EU policies, particularly the EU accession of Ukraine, providing further support to the country,\" Heged\u0171s said.\n\n\"Or the exiting of internal combustion engine cars by 2035. So there will be a certain blockade expected from the Czech side,\" he added.\n\nPehe stated that Babi\u0161 could also emulate Orb\u00e1n's tactics to curb the independence of the Czech public broadcaster, but the comparison stops here, as Pehe does not think \"he can go as far as Orb\u00e1n or Fico.\"\n\nYet, according to Pehe, Babis could protect his ally Orb\u00e1n from potential sanctions with his veto.\n\n\"As for his cooperation with Orb\u00e1n, yes, he has confessed for a long time that Orb\u00e1n is his ally and that he is inspired by Orb\u00e1n,\" Pehe said.\n\n\"But certainly, if there were a vote in the European Council on for example, suspending the voting rights of Hungary, where you need unanimity, Babi\u0161 would block it.\"\n\nSupport for Ukraine likely to remain a priority\n\nPehe said Babi\u0161 is unlikely to follow Orb\u00e1n's stance on Russia and Ukraine and would support further sanctions against Moscow, and that Babi\u0161 is clearly not anti-Kyiv.\n\n\"Babi\u0161 is not anti-Ukrainian,\" Pehe stated.\n\n\"I think he basically used the Ukrainian card mainly to attract a certain segment of voters when he was saying: 'We should not be spending so much on Ukraine because we need the money for our own people' So that was basically a populist call, but at the same time, he is not overly pro-Russian,\" he explained.\n\nAs Prague has already stopped Russian energy imports, Babi\u0161 as prime minister would now have a free rein over his policies when it comes to Russia. Furthermore, he is expected to be more pragmatic with Czech decisions on Ukraine.\n\n\"During the electoral campaign, he was saying he wants to cancel the Czech Ammunition Initiative of the outgoing government. But now it seems that he is changing his tone, and he says, well, maybe we don't have to cancel it, maybe just change it,\" Pehe said.\n\n\"And this is typical Babi\u0161, because he now sees that there may be an opportunity for him and for his companies as well,\" he explained.\n\nHeged\u0171s agreed on this point of ammunition support for Ukraine, expecting a pragmatic decision from Prague, as the scheme could benefit Czech industries.\n\n\"The Czech ammunition industry and defence industry are benefiting a lot from these purchases in the framework of this ammunition scheme,\" he said. \"And Babi\u0161 being a businessman, I could hardly imagine the Czech Republic completely drawn from that setup.\"\n\n\"It might be the case that the Czech budget is not dedicating extra resources, and I don't see why, actually, Babi\u0161 would break that very fruitful business scheme for the Czech defence sector,\" Heged\u0171s stated.\n\nEU's Green Deal to be criticised as well\n\nAnother area where the Czech Republic could be more critical of the EU is the Green Deal, which aims to phase out internal combustion car production by 2035.\n\n\"We consider the importance of the car industry for the Czech economy, representing approximately 10% of the country's GDP and 25% of its exports,\" Pehe said.\n\n\"Then we can understand why it's becoming such a central issue for a part of the Czech population as well.\"\n\n\"However, from an individual perspective, what I would add is that this is not necessarily what would keep the Czech car industry competitive in the future,\" Pehe explained, adding that most of the car manufacturers in the country are producing electric cars.\n\nEarlier, Europe's largest carmakers lobbied the European Commission to water down the rules coming their way in 2035.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Czech billionaire businessman Andrej Babi\u0161 is expected to move to form a government in Prague after his catch-all <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//video//2025//10//04//andrej-babis-ano-movement-set-to-win-czech-parliamentary-elections/">ANO party won 35 % of the votes at the general elections<\/strong><\/a><strong>,<\/strong> in a significant political shift for central and eastern Europe as well as the EU as a whole.<\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161 does not have a majority alone in the parliament, and he is likely to open coalition talks with the anti-Green Deal Motorists for Themselves and the anti-immigrant Freedom and Direct Democracy party, or attempt to form a minority government.<\/p>\n<p>The European political scene is now gauging to what extent the twice-former Czech prime minister\u2019s election campaign statements and political views could turn into concrete action and in which direction.<\/p>\n<p>Euronews reached out to political analyst Ji\u0159\u00ed Pehe, the director of the New York University in Prague, and to D\u00e1niel Heged\u0171s, the regional director of the German Marshall Fund of the US, to discuss the potential shift in EU-Czech relations in case of Babi\u0161 becoming the Czech Republic's new prime minister. <\/p>\n<h2>'No Czexit in sight, more anti-EU rhetoric expected'<\/h2>\n<p>Both experts said that, despite calls from the far right for a referendum on the country's EU and NATO membership, Babi\u0161 is committed to maintaining the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//video//2025//10//05//babis-pledges-loyalty-to-europe-as-czech-coalition-talks-begin/">euro-Atlantic ties. <\/a><\/p>\n<p>\"Babi\u0161 has said very clearly that he does not want to leave the European Union and NATO, and he's even refusing a referendum on Czexit and on leaving NATO, which really puts him on a collision course with the Freedom and Direct Democracy Party, which is demanding a referendum,\" Ji\u0159\u00ed Pehe said. <\/p>\n<p>Pehe sees the politician to be more pragmatic in the European Union than Hungary's PM Viktor Orb\u00e1n or Slovakia's Robert Fico. He reminded that Babi\u0161 has many companies in western Europe which receive EU subsidies. <\/p>\n<p>\"He doesn't want to go into an open war with the European Union. So we will probably see a lot of anti-EU rhetoric and criticism at home, but when he goes to Brussels, he will not create the same kinds of conflict that we see in the case of Orb\u00e1n, for example,\" Pehe said.<\/p>\n<p>Heged\u0171s agreed that Babi\u0161, a supporter of US President Donald Trump who has handed out MAGA-like \"Strong Czechia\" hats to his voters, will insist on his country's membership in the EU and NATO, adding that the Czech politician has no far-right mindset. <\/p>\n<p>\"Babi\u0161 is not necessarily someone with very pro-Russian or pro-Chinese policies. He's not an ideologue. He doesn't even necessarily have a far-right mindset,\" Heged\u0171s said. <\/p>\n<p>In Heged\u0171s' words, Babi\u0161 is \"a populist entrepreneur, both in a political and business sense, and most of his business interests are in western Europe.\"<\/p>\n<p>President Petr Pavel, who must approve the future cabinet according to Czech law, has already stated that he will not endorse any ministers questioning the country's EU membership. <\/p>\n<h2>A possible Orb\u00e1n-Babi\u0161 axis to challenge Brussels<\/h2>\n<p>Hungary's right-wing, eurosceptic PM Orb\u00e1n welcomed Babi\u0161' election victory. The two politicians are friends and political allies, and their parties sit in the same European Parliament political group, Patriots for Europe (PfE).<\/p>\n<p>If Babi\u0161 succeeds in forming a government, the PfE would have two prime ministers at the European Council. <\/p>\n<p>Heged\u0171s estimated that the expectations that Babi\u0161 could form a central European alliance with Orb\u00e1n and Slovakia's Fico to slow down future EU decision-making are half-guaranteed. <\/p>\n<p>\"Of course, we know that Babi\u0161 has a critical position about certain EU policies, particularly the EU accession of Ukraine, providing further support to the country,\" Heged\u0171s said.<\/p>\n<p>\"Or the exiting of internal combustion engine cars by 2035. So there will be a certain blockade expected from the Czech side,\" he added. <\/p>\n<p>Pehe stated that Babi\u0161 could also emulate Orb\u00e1n's tactics to curb the independence of the Czech public broadcaster, but the comparison stops here, as Pehe does not think \"he can go as far as Orb\u00e1n or Fico.\" <\/p>\n<p>Yet, according to Pehe, Babis could protect his ally Orb\u00e1n from potential sanctions with his veto. <\/p>\n<p>\"As for his cooperation with Orb\u00e1n, yes, he has confessed for a long time that Orb\u00e1n is his ally and that he is inspired by Orb\u00e1n,\" Pehe said. <\/p>\n<p>\"But certainly, if there were a vote in the European Council on for example, suspending the voting rights of Hungary, where you need unanimity, Babi\u0161 would block it.\"<\/p>\n<h2>Support for Ukraine likely to remain a priority<\/h2>\n<p>Pehe said Babi\u0161 is unlikely to follow Orb\u00e1n's stance on Russia and Ukraine and would support further sanctions against Moscow, and that Babi\u0161 is clearly not anti-Kyiv.<\/p>\n<p>\"Babi\u0161 is not anti-Ukrainian,\" Pehe stated. <\/p>\n<p>\"I think he basically used the Ukrainian card mainly to attract a certain segment of voters when he was saying: 'We should not be spending so much on Ukraine because we need the money for our own people' So that was basically a populist call, but at the same time, he is not overly pro-Russian,\" he explained.<\/p>\n<p>As Prague has already stopped Russian energy imports, Babi\u0161 as prime minister would now have a free rein over his policies when it comes to Russia. Furthermore, he is expected to be more pragmatic with Czech decisions on Ukraine. <\/p>\n<p>\"During the electoral campaign, he was saying he wants to cancel the Czech Ammunition Initiative of the outgoing government. But now it seems that he is changing his tone, and he says, well, maybe we don't have to cancel it, maybe just change it,\" Pehe said.<\/p>\n<p>\"And this is typical Babi\u0161, because he now sees that there may be an opportunity for him and for his companies as well,\" he explained.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"9497229,9496555\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//10//04//andrej-babis-ano-movement-set-to-win-czech-parliamentary-elections/">Andrej Babi\u0161' ANO movement wins Czech parliamentary elections<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//10//05//babis-pledges-loyalty-to-europe-as-czech-coalition-talks-begin/">Babi/u0161 pledges loyalty to Europe as Czech coalition talks begin <\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Heged\u0171s agreed on this point of ammunition support for Ukraine, expecting a pragmatic decision from Prague, as the scheme could benefit Czech industries. <\/p>\n<p>\"The Czech ammunition industry and defence industry are benefiting a lot from these purchases in the framework of this ammunition scheme,\" he said. \"And Babi\u0161 being a businessman, I could hardly imagine the Czech Republic completely drawn from that setup.\" <\/p>\n<p>\"It might be the case that the Czech budget is not dedicating extra resources, and I don't see why, actually, Babi\u0161 would break that very fruitful business scheme for the Czech defence sector,\" Heged\u0171s stated.<\/p>\n<h2>EU's Green Deal to be criticised as well<\/h2>\n<p>Another area where the Czech Republic could be more critical of the EU is the Green Deal, which aims to phase out internal combustion car production by 2035. <\/p>\n<p>\"We consider the importance of the car industry for the Czech economy, representing approximately 10% of the country's GDP and 25% of its exports,\" Pehe said. <\/p>\n<p>\"Then we can understand why it's becoming such a central issue for a part of the Czech population as well.\"<\/p>\n<p>\"However, from an individual perspective, what I would add is that this is not necessarily what would keep the Czech car industry competitive in the future,\" Pehe explained, adding that most of the car manufacturers in the country are producing electric cars.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier, Europe's largest carmakers lobbied the European Commission<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//09//08//car-industry-seeks-eu-life-support-from-near-death-experience/"> to water down <\/a>the rules coming their way in 2035. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1759750767,"updatedAt":1759775453,"publishedAt":1759774146,"firstPublishedAt":1759774146,"lastPublishedAt":1759775453,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/83\/09\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c282cd51-00d2-5994-85da-1cb3992cb5b7-9498309.jpg","altText":"Chairman of opposition \"ANO\" (YES) movement Andrej Babis speaks to the media after talking with Czech Republic President Petr Pavel a day after he won the parliamentary electi","caption":"Chairman of opposition \"ANO\" (YES) movement Andrej Babis speaks to the media after talking with Czech Republic President Petr Pavel a day after he won the parliamentary electi","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":526,"urlSafeValue":"zsiros","title":"Sandor 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Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/my-europe\/2025\/10\/06\/czech-elections-babis-will-pave-his-own-way-in-the-eu-observers-say","lastModified":1759775453},{"id":2836394,"cid":9497229,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CZECH GOVERNMENT TALKS ","daletPyramidId":2905292,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Babi\u0161 pledges loyalty to Europe as Czech coalition talks begin ","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Babi\u0161 pledges loyalty to Europe as Czech coalition talks begin ","titleListing2":"Babi\u0161 pledges loyalty to Europe as Czech coalition talks begin ","leadin":"Billionaire former prime minister Andrej Babi\u0161 won the Czech Republic's parliamentary elections according to partial results on Saturday.","summary":"Billionaire former prime minister Andrej Babi\u0161 won the Czech Republic's parliamentary elections according to partial results on Saturday.","keySentence":"","url":"babis-pledges-loyalty-to-europe-as-czech-coalition-talks-begin","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/10\/05\/babis-pledges-loyalty-to-europe-as-czech-coalition-talks-begin","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Leader of the ANO movement and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babi\u0161 vowed loyalty to Europe as talks to form a coalition government began.\n\n\"We were very reliable partner. And we are patriots for Europe. And we want to win next elections because Europe is suffering,\" Babi\u0161 said in response to questions from reporters on Sunday.\n\nOn Saturday, Babi\u0161' ANO party won parliamentary elections with 34.5% of the vote and 80 seats in a 200-member parliament. He soundly beat the Together conservative coalition of Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who received 23.2%\n\nThe major anti-migrant force, the Freedom and Direct Democracy party, got 7.9% while a right-wing group calling itself the Motorists collected 6.8%.\n\nBabi\u0161 has said his aim was to form a one-party government and he will have to seek tolerance from the two groups. Electoral math dictates he will have to join forces with additional parties in order to reach a majority.\n\nIf he wants to govern alone, his minority Cabinet would need at least tacit support from the Freedom party and the Motorists to win a mandatory parliamentary confidence vote to rule.\n\nBabi\u0161 joined forces with his friend, Hungary's Viktor Orb\u00e1n, last year to create a new alliance in the European Parliament, the \u201cPatriots for Europe,\u201d to represent hard-right groups, a significant shift from the liberal Renew group that Babi\u0161 previously belonged to.\n\nThe Patriots are united by anti-migrant rhetoric, a critical stance toward EU policies tackling climate change, and the protection of national sovereignty.\n\nThe Motorists, who are backed by former EU-skeptic President V\u00e1clav Klaus, share these views while the Freedom party wants to lead the country out of the EU and NATO and plans to expel almost all of some 380,000 Ukrainian refugees from the country.\n\nBabi\u0161 declared his party \"clearly pro-European and pro-NATO\" after his victory. At a press conference on Sunday, he said that \"negative information is constantly being spread abroad, which I think is unfair.\"\n\n\"After all, I was prime minister, and our orientation was clear. I am simply concerned that Europe should function, because its economic development is not going in the right direction.\"\n\nThe billionaire campaigned on a platform of prioritising domestic issues over international ones such as Russia's war in Ukraine.\n\nBabi\u0161 said he was planning to abandon an internationally recognised Czech initiative that acquires artillery shells for Ukraine on markets outside the EU.\n\n\u201cWe don't like it,\u201d Babi\u0161 said about that initiative. \u201cWe have a different view of it,\u201d he added.\n\nHe also said he opposed a NATO commitment to significantly increase defence spending and criticised a deal to purchase 24 US F-35 fighter jets.\n\nPresident Petr Pavel is scheduled to meet with Babi\u0161 and other party leaders on Sunday. The head of the strongest political force usually gets a chance from the president to form a new government.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Leader of the ANO movement and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babi\u0161 vowed loyalty to Europe as talks to form a coalition government began.<\/p>\n<p>\"We were very reliable partner. And we are patriots for Europe. And we want to win next elections because Europe is suffering,\" Babi\u0161 said in response to questions from reporters on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>On Saturday, Babi\u0161' ANO party won parliamentary elections with 34.5% of the vote and 80 seats in a 200-member parliament. He soundly beat the Together conservative coalition of Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who received 23.2%<\/p>\n<p>The major anti-migrant force, the Freedom and Direct Democracy party, got 7.9% while a right-wing group calling itself the Motorists collected 6.8%.<\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161 has said his aim was to form a one-party government and he will have to seek tolerance from the two groups. Electoral math dictates he will have to join forces with additional parties in order to reach a majority. <\/p>\n<p>If he wants to govern alone, his minority Cabinet would need at least tacit support from the Freedom party and the Motorists to win a mandatory parliamentary confidence vote to rule.<\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161 joined forces with his friend, Hungary's Viktor Orb\u00e1n, last year to create a new alliance in the European Parliament, the \u201cPatriots for Europe,\u201d to represent hard-right groups, a significant shift from the liberal Renew group that Babi\u0161 previously belonged to.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//49//72//29//808x539_cmsv2_62848445-5bf1-508f-9762-426985c00ce3-9497229.jpg/" alt=\"Chairman of opposition "ANO" (YES) movement Andrej Babis addresses the media after most of the votes were counted in the parliamentary elections in Prague, Oct. 4, 2025.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/72\/29\/384x256_cmsv2_62848445-5bf1-508f-9762-426985c00ce3-9497229.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/72\/29\/640x427_cmsv2_62848445-5bf1-508f-9762-426985c00ce3-9497229.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/72\/29\/750x500_cmsv2_62848445-5bf1-508f-9762-426985c00ce3-9497229.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/72\/29\/828x552_cmsv2_62848445-5bf1-508f-9762-426985c00ce3-9497229.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/72\/29\/1080x720_cmsv2_62848445-5bf1-508f-9762-426985c00ce3-9497229.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/72\/29\/1200x800_cmsv2_62848445-5bf1-508f-9762-426985c00ce3-9497229.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/72\/29\/1920x1280_cmsv2_62848445-5bf1-508f-9762-426985c00ce3-9497229.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Chairman of opposition "ANO" (YES) movement Andrej Babis addresses the media after most of the votes were counted in the parliamentary elections in Prague, Oct. 4, 2025.<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The Patriots are united by anti-migrant rhetoric, a critical stance toward EU policies tackling climate change, and the protection of national sovereignty.<\/p>\n<p>The Motorists, who are backed by former EU-skeptic President V\u00e1clav Klaus, share these views while the Freedom party wants to lead the country out of the EU and NATO and plans to expel almost all of some 380,000 Ukrainian refugees from the country.<\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161 declared his party \"clearly pro-European and pro-NATO\" after his victory. At a press conference on Sunday, he said that \"negative information is constantly being spread abroad, which I think is unfair.\" <\/p>\n<p>\"After all, I was prime minister, and our orientation was clear. I am simply concerned that Europe should function, because its economic development is not going in the right direction.\"<\/p>\n<p>The billionaire campaigned on a platform of prioritising domestic issues over international ones such as Russia's war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161 said he was planning to abandon an internationally recognised Czech initiative that acquires artillery shells for Ukraine on markets outside the EU. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe don't like it,\u201d Babi\u0161 said about that initiative. \u201cWe have a different view of it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>He also said he opposed a NATO commitment to significantly increase defence spending and criticised a deal to purchase 24 US F-35 fighter jets.<\/p>\n<p>President Petr Pavel is scheduled to meet with Babi\u0161 and other party leaders on Sunday. The head of the strongest political force usually gets a chance from the president to form a new government.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1759684331,"updatedAt":1759693977,"publishedAt":1759693935,"firstPublishedAt":1759693935,"lastPublishedAt":1759693935,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/72\/29\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_255781db-41b7-563c-8afe-c69c362ec296-9497229.jpg","altText":"Chairman of opposition \"ANO\" (YES) movement Andrej Babis addresses the media during the parliamentary elections in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. ","caption":"Chairman of opposition \"ANO\" (YES) movement Andrej Babis addresses the media during the parliamentary elections in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1125},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/72\/29\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_62848445-5bf1-508f-9762-426985c00ce3-9497229.jpg","altText":"Chairman of opposition \"ANO\" (YES) movement Andrej Babis addresses the media after most of the votes were counted in the parliamentary elections in Prague, Oct. 4, 2025.","caption":"Chairman of opposition \"ANO\" (YES) movement Andrej Babis addresses the media after most of the votes were counted in the parliamentary elections in Prague, Oct. 4, 2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":13502,"slug":"andrej-babis","urlSafeValue":"andrej-babis","title":"andrej babis","titleRaw":"andrej babis"},{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":288,"slug":"ukraine","urlSafeValue":"ukraine","title":"Ukraine","titleRaw":"Ukraine"},{"id":29994,"slug":"patriots-for-europe-pfe","urlSafeValue":"patriots-for-europe-pfe","title":"Patriots for Europe (PfE)","titleRaw":"Patriots for Europe (PfE)"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2835995},{"id":2852856}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"lHIUtj6VnTI","dailymotionId":"x9roztu"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/26\/10\/65\/04\/ED_PYR_2610654_20251005185258.mp4","editor":"","duration":89640,"filesizeBytes":15567103,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/26\/10\/65\/04\/SHD_PYR_2610654_20251005185258.mp4","editor":"","duration":89640,"filesizeBytes":22525866,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/26\/10\/65\/04\/FHD_PYR_2610654_20251005185258.mp4","editor":"","duration":89640,"filesizeBytes":70828610,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/10\/05\/babis-pledges-loyalty-to-europe-as-czech-coalition-talks-begin","lastModified":1759693935},{"id":2836215,"cid":9496555,"versionId":4,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CZECH ELEX BABIS","daletPyramidId":2899932,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Andrej Babi\u0161' ANO movement wins Czech parliamentary elections","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Andrej Babi\u0161' ANO movement wins Czech parliamentary elections","titleListing2":"Andrej Babi\u0161' ANO movement wins Czech parliamentary elections","leadin":"The billionaire former prime minister defeated a pro-Western coalition led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala to emerge victorious in Saturday's ballot.","summary":"The billionaire former prime minister defeated a pro-Western coalition led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala to emerge victorious in Saturday's ballot.","keySentence":"","url":"andrej-babis-ano-movement-set-to-win-czech-parliamentary-elections","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/10\/04\/andrej-babis-ano-movement-set-to-win-czech-parliamentary-elections","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Billionaire Andrej Babi\u0161 and his ANO (YES) movement have won Czechia's parliamentary elections with 34.6 percent of the vote, partial results indicated on Saturday.\n\nWith around 99 percent of votes counted, ANO looked poised to take power from Prime Minister Petr Fiala's pro-Western coalition who won around 23.3% of the vote this year.\n\nThe major anti-migrant force, the Freedom and Direct Democracy party got 8.3% while a right-wing group calling itself the Motorists for Themselves party received 7.1%.\n\nThe two are potential partners for Babi\u0161, who with 86 seats will need the support of another party to form a coalition. He has ruled out cooperation with the other five parties that were in government after the 2021 election, in which he lost.\n\nBabi\u0161 told journalists he was \"happy\" during a celebration at his campaign headquarters on Saturday evening to loud applause from his supporters.\n\nLess support for Ukraine\n\nWith the victory, Babi\u0161 would join the ranks of Prime Ministers Viktor Orb\u00e1n of Hungary and Robert Fico of Slovakia, whose countries have refused to provide military aid to Ukraine, continue to import Russian oil and oppose European Union sanctions on Russia.\n\nThe Czech Republic has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The country has donated arms including heavy weaponry.\n\nBabi\u0161 has questioned such support and also refused to fully endorse a NATO commitment to significantly increase defence spending.\n\nLast year, he joined forces with Orb\u00e1n to create the \"Patriots for Europe\" group in the European Parliament, an alliance that represents hard right groups. The parties are aligned by a critical stance toward EU policies tackling climate change, anti-migrant rhetoric and the protection of national sovereignty.\n\nBabi\u0161 campaigned on a platform for cheaper energy, higher pensions and prioritising domestic issue in the Czech Republic above Ukraine. He already served as prime minister from 2017 to 2021.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Billionaire Andrej Babi\u0161 and his ANO (YES) movement have won Czechia's parliamentary elections with 34.6 percent of the vote, partial results indicated on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>With around 99 percent of votes counted, ANO looked poised to take power from Prime Minister Petr Fiala's pro-Western coalition who won around 23.3% of the vote this year. <\/p>\n<p>The major anti-migrant force, the Freedom and Direct Democracy party got 8.3% while a right-wing group calling itself the Motorists for Themselves party received 7.1%. <\/p>\n<p>The two are potential partners for Babi\u0161, who with 86 seats will need the support of another party to form a coalition. He has ruled out cooperation with the other five parties that were in government after the 2021 election, in which he lost. <\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161 told journalists he was \"happy\" during a celebration at his campaign headquarters on Saturday evening to loud applause from his supporters. <\/p>\n<h2>Less support for Ukraine<\/h2>\n<p>With the victory, Babi\u0161 would join the ranks of Prime Ministers Viktor Orb\u00e1n of Hungary and Robert Fico of Slovakia, whose countries have refused to provide military aid to Ukraine, continue to import Russian oil and oppose European Union sanctions on Russia.<\/p>\n<p>The Czech Republic has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The country has donated arms including heavy weaponry. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//49//65//55//808x539_cmsv2_293c4ffb-7659-5e7e-b431-3fc2d454a367-9496555.jpg/" alt=\"Confetti fall as the Chairman of opposition "ANO" (YES) movement Andrej Babis addresses the media after most of the votes were counted in the parliamentary elections in Prague\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/65\/55\/384x256_cmsv2_293c4ffb-7659-5e7e-b431-3fc2d454a367-9496555.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/65\/55\/640x427_cmsv2_293c4ffb-7659-5e7e-b431-3fc2d454a367-9496555.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/65\/55\/750x500_cmsv2_293c4ffb-7659-5e7e-b431-3fc2d454a367-9496555.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/65\/55\/828x552_cmsv2_293c4ffb-7659-5e7e-b431-3fc2d454a367-9496555.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/65\/55\/1080x720_cmsv2_293c4ffb-7659-5e7e-b431-3fc2d454a367-9496555.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/65\/55\/1200x800_cmsv2_293c4ffb-7659-5e7e-b431-3fc2d454a367-9496555.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/65\/55\/1920x1280_cmsv2_293c4ffb-7659-5e7e-b431-3fc2d454a367-9496555.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Confetti fall as the Chairman of opposition "ANO" (YES) movement Andrej Babis addresses the media after most of the votes were counted in the parliamentary elections in Prague<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p> Babi\u0161 has questioned such support and also refused to fully endorse a NATO commitment to significantly increase defence spending.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, he joined forces with Orb\u00e1n to create the \"Patriots for Europe\" group in the European Parliament, an alliance that represents hard right groups. The parties are aligned by a critical stance toward EU policies tackling climate change, anti-migrant rhetoric and the protection of national sovereignty.<\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161 campaigned on a platform for cheaper energy, higher pensions and prioritising domestic issue in the Czech Republic above Ukraine. He already served as prime minister from 2017 to 2021. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1759595407,"updatedAt":1759605580,"publishedAt":1759596839,"firstPublishedAt":1759596839,"lastPublishedAt":1759601434,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/65\/55\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_de1cb7c1-05e5-504c-befe-6a583455f4f8-9496555.jpg","altText":"Chairman of opposition \"ANO\" (YES) movement Andrej Babis arrives at his election headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. ","caption":"Chairman of opposition \"ANO\" (YES) movement Andrej Babis arrives at his election headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/65\/55\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_293c4ffb-7659-5e7e-b431-3fc2d454a367-9496555.jpg","altText":"Confetti fall as the Chairman of opposition \"ANO\" (YES) movement Andrej Babis addresses the media after most of the votes were counted in the parliamentary elections in Prague","caption":"Confetti fall as the Chairman of opposition \"ANO\" (YES) movement Andrej Babis addresses the media after most of the votes were counted in the parliamentary elections in Prague","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":10653,"slug":"czech-politics","urlSafeValue":"czech-politics","title":"Czech politics","titleRaw":"Czech politics"},{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":13333,"slug":"populism","urlSafeValue":"populism","title":"populism","titleRaw":"populism"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2829696},{"id":2843664}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"4TPDo5RxD58","dailymotionId":"x9rnmis"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/26\/06\/64\/05\/ED_PYR_2606645_20251004191941.mp4","editor":"","duration":63120,"filesizeBytes":11967531,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/26\/06\/64\/05\/SHD_PYR_2606645_20251004191941.mp4","editor":"","duration":63120,"filesizeBytes":16670761,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/26\/06\/64\/05\/FHD_PYR_2606645_20251004191941.mp4","editor":"","duration":63120,"filesizeBytes":50299436,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/10\/04\/andrej-babis-ano-movement-set-to-win-czech-parliamentary-elections","lastModified":1759601434},{"id":2835995,"cid":9495580,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CZECH FIRST DAY VOTING","daletPyramidId":2893241,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Voting begins in Czech Republic election with populist Andrej Babi\u0161 tipped to win","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Voting starts in Czech election with Andrej Babi\u0161 tipped to win","titleListing2":"Voting starts in Czech Republic election with populist Andrej Babi\u0161 tipped to win","leadin":"Opinion polls put the former prime minister on course for victory over a pro-Western coalition led by Petr Fiala that defeated him in elections in 2021.","summary":"Opinion polls put the former prime minister on course for victory over a pro-Western coalition led by Petr Fiala that defeated him in elections in 2021.","keySentence":"","url":"voting-begins-in-czech-republic-election-with-populist-andrej-babis-tipped-to-win","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/10\/03\/voting-begins-in-czech-republic-election-with-populist-andrej-babis-tipped-to-win","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Voting began on Friday in a two-day general election in the Czech Republic that could steer the country away from its support for Ukraine, threatening to further divide the European Union and NATO.\n\nBillionaire\u00a0businessman and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babi\u0161 is predicted to become the latest populist leader in Central Europe to stage a political comeback.\n\nOpinion polls put him on course for victory over a pro-Western coalition led by Petr Fiala that\u00a0defeated him in elections in 2021.\n\nBabi\u0161' victory could move the country into the orbit of Viktor Orb\u00e1n's Hungary and Robert Fico's Slovakia, both of which have favoured maintaining ties with Russia and have refused to provide military aid for Ukraine.\n\nHungary and Slovakia also continue to import Russian oil and have opposed EU sanctions on Moscow.\n\nLast year, Babi\u0161, along with his friend Orb\u00e1n, co-founded the new \"Patriots for Europe\" alliance in the European Parliament,\u00a0a significant shift from the liberal Renew group he previously belonged to.\n\nThe Patriots are critical of EU policies on migration and climate change, and support the protection of national sovereignty.\n\nBabi\u0161 has denied sharing the pro-Russian stance of many members of the group, but he is planning to end a\u00a0Czech initiative that has acquired millions of artillery shells for Ukraine. He has also refused to fully endorse a NATO commitment to significantly increase defence spending.\n\nThe Czech government under Fiala has provided Ukraine with significant humanitarian and military aid, as well as hosting around half a million Ukrainian refugees.\n\nBabi\u0161 has been a divisive figure since he joined Czech national politics in 2013. A member of the Communist Party before the 1989 Velvet Revolution that toppled the communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia, he has drawn\u00a0comparisons to US President Donald Trump\u00a0and\u00a0faces fraud charges\u00a0in a case involving EU subsidies.\n\nBut scandals seem to have done little to dent his popular support at home.\n\nHis populist ANO (YES) movement, which he defined as a \"catch-all\" party, lost the parliamentary election in October 2021 after a turbulent term including the Covid-19 pandemic.\n\nA coalition of five parties formed a new government.\n\nBabi\u0161 would prefer to rule alone, but polls predict he is likely to only win up to 30% of the vote. That would be about 10% more than Fiala\u2019s coalition, but not enough to form a majority government.\n\nHe has ruled out cooperation with any of the parties that have been in the government since the 2021 election.\n\nHis potential partners include two coalitions that are openly pro-Russian and want to lead the country out of the EU and NATO. Babi\u0161 declared that this was not his intention.\n\nAnother potential ally, a right-wing group calling itself the Motorists that is backed by former Euro-sceptic President V\u00e1clav Klaus, has vowed to reject the EU's environmental policies.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Voting began on Friday in a two-day general election in the Czech Republic that could steer the country away from its support for Ukraine, threatening to further divide the European Union and NATO.<\/p>\n<p>Billionaire\u00a0businessman and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babi\u0161 is predicted to become the latest populist leader in Central Europe to stage a political comeback.<\/p>\n<p>Opinion polls put him on course for victory over a pro-Western coalition led by Petr Fiala that\u00a0defeated him in elections in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161' victory could move the country into the orbit of Viktor Orb\u00e1n's Hungary and Robert Fico's Slovakia, both of which have favoured maintaining ties with Russia and have refused to provide military aid for Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>Hungary and Slovakia also continue to import Russian oil and have opposed EU sanctions on Moscow.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//49//55//80//808x539_cmsv2_d2d474f7-8f30-5be8-95ec-0fdbbedbdc47-9495580.jpg/" alt=\"Andrej Babi\u0161 speaks to the press after voting at a polling station in Ostrava, 3 October, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/384x256_cmsv2_d2d474f7-8f30-5be8-95ec-0fdbbedbdc47-9495580.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/640x427_cmsv2_d2d474f7-8f30-5be8-95ec-0fdbbedbdc47-9495580.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/750x500_cmsv2_d2d474f7-8f30-5be8-95ec-0fdbbedbdc47-9495580.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/828x552_cmsv2_d2d474f7-8f30-5be8-95ec-0fdbbedbdc47-9495580.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/1080x720_cmsv2_d2d474f7-8f30-5be8-95ec-0fdbbedbdc47-9495580.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/1200x800_cmsv2_d2d474f7-8f30-5be8-95ec-0fdbbedbdc47-9495580.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/1920x1280_cmsv2_d2d474f7-8f30-5be8-95ec-0fdbbedbdc47-9495580.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Andrej Babi\u0161 speaks to the press after voting at a polling station in Ostrava, 3 October, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Last year, Babi\u0161, along with his friend Orb\u00e1n, co-founded the new \"Patriots for Europe\" alliance in the European Parliament,\u00a0a significant shift from the liberal Renew group he previously belonged to.<\/p>\n<p>The Patriots are critical of EU policies on migration and climate change, and support the protection of national sovereignty.<\/p>\n<p>Babi\u0161 has denied sharing the pro-Russian stance of many members of the group, but he is planning to end a\u00a0Czech initiative that has acquired millions of artillery shells for Ukraine. He has also refused to fully endorse a NATO commitment to significantly increase defence spending.<\/p>\n<p>The Czech government under Fiala has provided Ukraine with significant humanitarian and military aid, as well as hosting around half a million Ukrainian refugees.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"8520770,7344208\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2024//06//21//eu-liberals-dealt-a-new-blow-after-czechias-andrej-babis-pulls-out-his-seven-meps/">EU Liberals dealt a new blow after Czechia's Andrej Babi\u0161 pulls out his seven MEPs <\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2023//01//29//andrej-babis-defeated-is-this-the-end-of-czech-populism/">Andrej Babi\u0161 defeated: Is this the end of Czech populism?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Babi\u0161 has been a divisive figure since he joined Czech national politics in 2013. A member of the Communist Party before the 1989 Velvet Revolution that toppled the communist regime in what was then Czechoslovakia, he has drawn\u00a0comparisons to US President Donald Trump\u00a0and\u00a0faces fraud charges\u00a0in a case involving EU subsidies.<\/p>\n<p>But scandals seem to have done little to dent his popular support at home.<\/p>\n<p>His populist ANO (YES) movement, which he defined as a \"catch-all\" party, lost the parliamentary election in October 2021 after a turbulent term including the Covid-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>A coalition of five parties formed a new government.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//49//55//80//808x539_cmsv2_30281cc2-cf31-5bd9-a41b-33ea47a7cd1f-9495580.jpg/" alt=\"A woman casts her ballot for a general election at a poling station in Brno, 3 October, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/384x256_cmsv2_30281cc2-cf31-5bd9-a41b-33ea47a7cd1f-9495580.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/640x427_cmsv2_30281cc2-cf31-5bd9-a41b-33ea47a7cd1f-9495580.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/750x500_cmsv2_30281cc2-cf31-5bd9-a41b-33ea47a7cd1f-9495580.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/828x552_cmsv2_30281cc2-cf31-5bd9-a41b-33ea47a7cd1f-9495580.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/1080x720_cmsv2_30281cc2-cf31-5bd9-a41b-33ea47a7cd1f-9495580.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/1200x800_cmsv2_30281cc2-cf31-5bd9-a41b-33ea47a7cd1f-9495580.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/1920x1280_cmsv2_30281cc2-cf31-5bd9-a41b-33ea47a7cd1f-9495580.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A woman casts her ballot for a general election at a poling station in Brno, 3 October, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Babi\u0161 would prefer to rule alone, but polls predict he is likely to only win up to 30% of the vote. That would be about 10% more than Fiala\u2019s coalition, but not enough to form a majority government.<\/p>\n<p>He has ruled out cooperation with any of the parties that have been in the government since the 2021 election.<\/p>\n<p>His potential partners include two coalitions that are openly pro-Russian and want to lead the country out of the EU and NATO. Babi\u0161 declared that this was not his intention.<\/p>\n<p>Another potential ally, a right-wing group calling itself the Motorists that is backed by former Euro-sceptic President V\u00e1clav Klaus, has vowed to reject the EU's environmental policies.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1759500117,"updatedAt":1759505305,"publishedAt":1759504626,"firstPublishedAt":1759504626,"lastPublishedAt":1759504626,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_875bf35c-f445-54f2-8928-937ee230db46-9495580.jpg","altText":"A woman casts her ballot for a general election at a poling station in Brno, 3 October, 2025","caption":"A woman casts her ballot for a general election at a poling station in Brno, 3 October, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_30281cc2-cf31-5bd9-a41b-33ea47a7cd1f-9495580.jpg","altText":"A woman casts her ballot for a general election at a poling station in Brno, 3 October, 2025","caption":"A woman casts her ballot for a general election at a poling station in Brno, 3 October, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/49\/55\/80\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_d2d474f7-8f30-5be8-95ec-0fdbbedbdc47-9495580.jpg","altText":"Andrej Babi\u0161 speaks to the press after voting at a polling station in Ostrava, 3 October, 2025","caption":"Andrej Babi\u0161 speaks to the press after voting at a polling station in Ostrava, 3 October, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":10653,"slug":"czech-politics","urlSafeValue":"czech-politics","title":"Czech politics","titleRaw":"Czech politics"},{"id":26138,"slug":"petr-fiala","urlSafeValue":"petr-fiala","title":"Petr Fiala","titleRaw":"Petr Fiala"},{"id":11939,"slug":"elections","urlSafeValue":"elections","title":"Elections","titleRaw":"Elections"},{"id":26692,"slug":"war-in-ukraine","urlSafeValue":"war-in-ukraine","title":"War in Ukraine","titleRaw":"War in Ukraine"},{"id":239,"slug":"russia","urlSafeValue":"russia","title":"Russia","titleRaw":"Russia"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2828448}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":{"id":2062,"urlSafeValue":"prague","title":"Prague"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/10\/03\/voting-begins-in-czech-republic-election-with-populist-andrej-babis-tipped-to-win","lastModified":1759504626},{"id":2829696,"cid":9456830,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"BELARUS SPY NETWORK","daletPyramidId":2654199,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary break up Belarus spy network in Europe","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Czech Republic and allies break up Belarus spy network across Europe","titleListing2":"Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary break up Belarus spy network across Europe","leadin":"The Czech intelligence agency said Belarus managed to create the network because its diplomats are able to freely travel across European countries.","summary":"The Czech intelligence agency said Belarus managed to create the network because its diplomats are able to freely travel across European countries.","keySentence":"","url":"czech-republic-romania-and-hungary-break-up-belarus-spy-network-in-europe","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/09\/08\/czech-republic-romania-and-hungary-break-up-belarus-spy-network-in-europe","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The Czech Republic's counter-intelligence agency said on Monday that it has broken up a spy network being built in Europe by\u00a0Belarus in a joint operation with the intelligence services of Hungary and Romania.\n\nThe Czech agency, also known as BIS, said in a statement that a team of European agents discovered spies in several European countries from Belarus' main security agency, KGB.\n\nIt said a former deputy head of Moldovan intelligence service SIS who handed over classified information to KGB was among them.\n\nThe Czechs also expelled a Belarusian agent who was operating under the cover of a diplomat. That person was given 72 hours to leave the country, the Czech Foreign Ministry said on Monday.\n\nThe Czech agency said Belarus managed to create the network because its diplomats are able to freely travel across European countries.\n\n\"To successfully counter these hostile activities in Europe, we need to restrict the movement of accredited diplomats from Russia and Belarus within the Schengen (borderless) area,\" BIS head Michal Koudelka said in a statement.\n\nThe agency didn't immediately offer any further details.\n\nThe ongoing international investigation has been supervised by the European Union's judicial cooperation agency, Eurojust.\n\nBelarus is led by President Aliaksandr Lukashenka who is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.\n\nHis country allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory as a staging ground for\u00a0Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022\u00a0and later allowed the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear missiles.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The Czech Republic's counter-intelligence agency said on Monday that it has broken up a spy network being built in Europe by\u00a0Belarus in a joint operation with the intelligence services of Hungary and Romania.<\/p>\n<p>The Czech agency, also known as BIS, said in a statement that a team of European agents discovered spies in several European countries from Belarus' main security agency, KGB.<\/p>\n<p>It said a former deputy head of Moldovan intelligence service SIS who handed over classified information to KGB was among them.<\/p>\n<p>The Czechs also expelled a Belarusian agent who was operating under the cover of a diplomat. That person was given 72 hours to leave the country, the Czech Foreign Ministry said on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>The Czech agency said Belarus managed to create the network because its diplomats are able to freely travel across European countries.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.698\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//45//68//30//808x565_cmsv2_70e5eab9-c496-5d6b-9b74-6aa7109ed7c7-9456830.jpg/" alt=\"Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka during their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, 2 September, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/68\/30\/384x268_cmsv2_70e5eab9-c496-5d6b-9b74-6aa7109ed7c7-9456830.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/68\/30\/640x447_cmsv2_70e5eab9-c496-5d6b-9b74-6aa7109ed7c7-9456830.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/68\/30\/750x524_cmsv2_70e5eab9-c496-5d6b-9b74-6aa7109ed7c7-9456830.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/68\/30\/828x578_cmsv2_70e5eab9-c496-5d6b-9b74-6aa7109ed7c7-9456830.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/68\/30\/1080x754_cmsv2_70e5eab9-c496-5d6b-9b74-6aa7109ed7c7-9456830.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/68\/30\/1200x838_cmsv2_70e5eab9-c496-5d6b-9b74-6aa7109ed7c7-9456830.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/68\/30\/1920x1340_cmsv2_70e5eab9-c496-5d6b-9b74-6aa7109ed7c7-9456830.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka during their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, 2 September, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\"To successfully counter these hostile activities in Europe, we need to restrict the movement of accredited diplomats from Russia and Belarus within the Schengen (borderless) area,\" BIS head Michal Koudelka said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>The agency didn't immediately offer any further details.<\/p>\n<p>The ongoing international investigation has been supervised by the European Union's judicial cooperation agency, Eurojust.<\/p>\n<p>Belarus is led by President Aliaksandr Lukashenka who is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n<p>His country allowed Russia to use Belarusian territory as a staging ground for\u00a0Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022\u00a0and later allowed the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear missiles.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1757353267,"updatedAt":1757354431,"publishedAt":1757354408,"firstPublishedAt":1757354408,"lastPublishedAt":1757354408,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/68\/30\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_19e513b5-69fd-5a05-975c-df42db673c3f-9456830.jpg","altText":"People walk in Independent Square during sunset in Minsk, 5 July, 2023","caption":"People walk in Independent Square during sunset in Minsk, 5 July, 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/45\/68\/30\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_70e5eab9-c496-5d6b-9b74-6aa7109ed7c7-9456830.jpg","altText":"Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka during their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, 2 September, 2025","caption":"Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Aliaksandr Lukashenka during their meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, 2 September, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1396}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":238,"slug":"romania","urlSafeValue":"romania","title":"Romania","titleRaw":"Romania"},{"id":143,"slug":"hungary","urlSafeValue":"hungary","title":"Hungary","titleRaw":"Hungary"},{"id":23,"slug":"belarus","urlSafeValue":"belarus","title":"Belarus","titleRaw":"Belarus"},{"id":8133,"slug":"espionage","urlSafeValue":"espionage","title":"Espionage","titleRaw":"Espionage"},{"id":26692,"slug":"war-in-ukraine","urlSafeValue":"war-in-ukraine","title":"War in Ukraine","titleRaw":"War in Ukraine"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2836215},{"id":2839397},{"id":2853193}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":{"id":2062,"urlSafeValue":"prague","title":"Prague"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/09\/08\/czech-republic-romania-and-hungary-break-up-belarus-spy-network-in-europe","lastModified":1757354408},{"id":2828448,"cid":9449470,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CZECH GERMAN TANKS PURCHASE","daletPyramidId":2608435,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Czech Republic approves \u20ac1.4bn purchase of 44 Leopard tanks from Germany","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Czech Republic approves \u20ac1.4bn purchase of Leopard tanks from Germany","titleListing2":"Czech Republic approves \u20ac1.4bn purchase of 44 Leopard tanks from Germany","leadin":"The move comes just months after the NATO member announced that its military spending would increase to 3% of GDP by the end of the decade.","summary":"The move comes just months after the NATO member announced that its military spending would increase to 3% of GDP by the end of the decade.","keySentence":"","url":"czech-republic-approves-14bn-purchase-of-44-leopard-tanks-from-germany","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/09\/03\/czech-republic-approves-14bn-purchase-of-44-leopard-tanks-from-germany","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The Czech government has approved the \u20ac1.4bn purchase of 44 Leopard 2A8 battle tanks from Germany as part of efforts to modernise its army.\n\nThe development follows the defence ministry\u2019s backing of the deal last month.\n\nSpeaking on Wednesday, Czech Defence Minister Jana \u010cernochov\u00e1 confirmed that the tanks, which are due to be delivered between 2028 and 2031, would cost 34 billion crowns (\u20ac1.4 billion).\n\nThe Czech Republic also has the option to buy 14 more at a later date.\n\n\"Tanks are an essential part of a heavy brigade,\" \u010cernochov\u00e1 said on Wednesday after the government approved the purchase.\n\nUnder a separate deal, the country, which agreed last year to procure up to 77 Leopard tanks from Germany and other countries, is also in discussions to buy 19 specialised version 2A8s.\n\nThe Czech army will also buy 18 Supacat Extenda light armoured vehicles from LPP for \u20ac37.6 million.\n\nAmong other major military contracts, Prague has also in recent years supported a plan to buy 24 US F-35 fighter jets and 246 CV90 armoured combat vehicles.\n\nThe new military spending come as Prague looks to replace older machinery that it supplied to Ukraine after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.\n\nEarlier this year, the Czech Republic announced that it would raise its defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030.\n\nMany other NATO members have also promised to dramatically increase their military investments, following pressure from US President Donald Trump, who accused European countries of failing to pay their fair share for the alliance's collective security.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The Czech government has approved the \u20ac1.4bn purchase of 44 Leopard 2A8 battle tanks from Germany as part of efforts to modernise its army. <\/p>\n<p>The development follows the defence ministry\u2019s backing of the deal last month. <\/p>\n<p>Speaking on Wednesday, Czech Defence Minister Jana \u010cernochov\u00e1 confirmed that the tanks, which are due to be delivered between 2028 and 2031, would cost 34 billion crowns (\u20ac1.4 billion). <\/p>\n<p>The Czech Republic also has the option to buy 14 more at a later date. <\/p>\n<p>\"Tanks are an essential part of a heavy brigade,\" \u010cernochov\u00e1 said on Wednesday after the government approved the purchase. <\/p>\n<p>Under a separate deal, the country, which agreed last year to procure up to 77 Leopard tanks from Germany and other countries, is also in discussions to buy 19 specialised version 2A8s. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"9448819,9440428\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2025//09//03//toyota-expands-czech-plant-to-build-its-first-european-ev/">Toyota expands Czech plant to build its first European EV <\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//my-europe//2025//09//01//russian-propaganda-is-overtaking-legitimate-news-in-the-czech-republic/">Russian propaganda is 'overtaking' legitimate news in the Czech Republic<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The Czech army will also buy 18 Supacat Extenda light armoured vehicles from LPP for \u20ac37.6 million. <\/p>\n<p>Among other major military contracts, Prague has also in recent years supported a plan to buy 24 US F-35 fighter jets and 246 CV90 armoured combat vehicles. <\/p>\n<p>The new military spending come as Prague looks to replace older machinery that it supplied to Ukraine after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. <\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, the Czech Republic announced that it would raise its defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030. <\/p>\n<p>Many other NATO members have also promised to dramatically increase their military investments, following pressure from US President Donald Trump, who accused European countries of failing to pay their fair share for the alliance's collective security. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1756910301,"updatedAt":1756912468,"publishedAt":1756912282,"firstPublishedAt":1756912282,"lastPublishedAt":1756912282,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/94\/70\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_d150c88b-d2a2-5b98-ab0f-d863fc203c3e-9449470.jpg","altText":"A German army Main battle tank Leopard 2A7V takes part in the Lithuanian-German division-level international military exercise 'Grand Quadriga 2024' in Vilnius, 29 May, 2024","caption":"A German army Main battle tank Leopard 2A7V takes part in the Lithuanian-German division-level international military exercise 'Grand Quadriga 2024' in Vilnius, 29 May, 2024","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3272,"urlSafeValue":"sullivan","title":"Rory Sullivan","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":125,"slug":"germany","urlSafeValue":"germany","title":"Germany","titleRaw":"Germany"},{"id":27986,"slug":"leopard-tank","urlSafeValue":"leopard-tank","title":"Leopard tank","titleRaw":"Leopard tank"},{"id":288,"slug":"ukraine","urlSafeValue":"ukraine","title":"Ukraine","titleRaw":"Ukraine"},{"id":239,"slug":"russia","urlSafeValue":"russia","title":"Russia","titleRaw":"Russia"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2828350},{"id":2835995}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/09\/03\/czech-republic-approves-14bn-purchase-of-44-leopard-tanks-from-germany","lastModified":1756912282},{"id":2826943,"cid":9440428,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"BONUS EUROVERIFY CZECH RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA","daletPyramidId":2553889,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Russian propaganda is 'overtaking' legitimate news in the Czech Republic","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Russian propaganda is 'overtaking' legitimate Czech news","titleListing2":"Russian propaganda is 'overtaking' legitimate news in the Czech Republic","leadin":"As Czech elections approach, disinformation has reached historic highs in the country, according to a study.","summary":"As Czech elections approach, disinformation has reached historic highs in the country, according to a study.","keySentence":"","url":"russian-propaganda-is-overtaking-legitimate-news-in-the-czech-republic","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/09\/01\/russian-propaganda-is-overtaking-legitimate-news-in-the-czech-republic","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A new report claims that disinformation websites in the Czech Republic publish around 120 articles a day, outpacing the country's main reliable news outlets.\n\nCzech news outlet Voxpot teamed up with an IT association called Druit to analyse 360,000 publications across 16 platforms over the past 25 years.\n\nThe investigation revealed that disinformation servers in the country churn out more articles every day than the largest Czech media houses, often doing so covertly with Russian money or funding from entities close to Russia.\n\nAccording to the report, some of the largest disseminators of false news are websites called Cz24news, which publishes up to 2,000 pieces a month and attracts around 3 million visits, Zv\u011bdavec, Nov\u00e1 republika, Protiproud, and Ac24.\n\nNov\u00e1 republika was founded by Ivan David, a current MEP for the far-right SPD party and former minister of health, while Protiproud is reportedly connected to funding from Russian President Vladimir Putin's circle through its own founder.\n\nVoxpot said that roughly 10% of the articles were direct translations of pieces from state-owned and state-controlled Russian outlets such as Sputnik and RT, or other websites linked to the Russian propaganda machine.\n\n\"Of the total number of 20,975 articles citing Russian propaganda sources, more than 7,000 came from the state agency Sputnik, another 4,000 from RT television, and more than 2,000 from RIA Novosti,\" the report said.\n\nThe EU has banned these media platforms since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.\n\nIn the Czech Republic, those flouting sanctions on the sites can be met with fines of up to 50 million koruna (\u20ac2 million) or eight years in prison.\n\nThe report notes a common tactic that Russian propaganda campaigns often employ in Europe: as election time approaches, the amount of disinformation ramps up.\n\nThe Czech Republic is due to hold its parliamentary elections in early October, which will see the election of all 200 members of the Chamber of Deputies and the prime minister. Voxpot says that, with the vote on the horizon, around 4,000 misleading articles are published per month, the highest rate in history.\n\nSome of the misleading headlines include the supposed bankruptcy of Ukraine, allegations that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was spotted taking cocaine, and accusations that Brussels will interfere in the Czech elections.\n\nOther articles contain threats of a nuclear attack by Russia if Ukraine and NATO continue to resist against Moscow's war, and others even contain bizarre claims that environmental campaigners are pushing for cannibalism\n\nUltimately, the goal of such headlines is to try and muster distrust in Western democracy and political leaders, and to try and generate a more positive public opinion towards Russia.\u00a0\n\n","htmlText":"<p>A new report claims that disinformation websites in the Czech Republic publish around 120 articles a day, outpacing the country's main reliable news outlets.<\/p>\n<p>Czech news outlet <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.voxpot.cz//ruska-kampan-v-cesku-je-mnohem-vetsi-nez-jste-si-mysleli///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Voxpot<\/strong><\/a> teamed up with an IT association called Druit to analyse 360,000 publications across 16 platforms over the past 25 years.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation revealed that disinformation servers in the country churn out more articles every day than the largest Czech media houses, often doing so covertly with Russian money or funding from entities close to Russia.<\/p>\n<p>According to the report, some of the largest disseminators of false news are websites called Cz24news, which publishes up to 2,000 pieces a month and attracts around 3 million visits, Zv\u011bdavec, Nov\u00e1 republika, Protiproud, and Ac24.<\/p>\n<p>Nov\u00e1 republika was founded by Ivan David, a current MEP for the far-right SPD party and former minister of health, while Protiproud is reportedly connected to funding from Russian President Vladimir Putin's circle through its own founder.<\/p>\n<p>Voxpot said that roughly 10% of the articles were direct translations of pieces from state-owned and state-controlled Russian outlets such as Sputnik and RT, or other websites linked to the Russian propaganda machine.<\/p>\n<p>\"Of the total number of 20,975 articles citing Russian propaganda sources, more than 7,000 came from the state agency Sputnik, another 4,000 from RT television, and more than 2,000 from RIA Novosti,\" the report said.<\/p>\n<p>The EU has banned these media platforms since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.<\/p>\n<p>In the Czech Republic, those flouting sanctions on the sites can be met with fines of up to 50 million koruna (\u20ac2 million) or eight years in prison.<\/p>\n<p>The report notes a common tactic that Russian propaganda campaigns often employ in Europe: as election time approaches, the amount of disinformation ramps up.<\/p>\n<p>The Czech Republic is due to hold its parliamentary elections in early October, which will see the election of all 200 members of the Chamber of Deputies and the prime minister. Voxpot says that, with the vote on the horizon, around 4,000 misleading articles are published per month, the highest rate in history.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//44//04//28//808x454_cmsv2_4bccc72c-4da6-5b10-8a25-5b1691268d33-9440428.jpg/" alt=\"A selection of some of the false headlines spread as part of the disinformation campaign\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/04\/28\/384x216_cmsv2_4bccc72c-4da6-5b10-8a25-5b1691268d33-9440428.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/04\/28\/640x360_cmsv2_4bccc72c-4da6-5b10-8a25-5b1691268d33-9440428.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/04\/28\/750x422_cmsv2_4bccc72c-4da6-5b10-8a25-5b1691268d33-9440428.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/04\/28\/828x466_cmsv2_4bccc72c-4da6-5b10-8a25-5b1691268d33-9440428.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/04\/28\/1080x608_cmsv2_4bccc72c-4da6-5b10-8a25-5b1691268d33-9440428.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/04\/28\/1200x675_cmsv2_4bccc72c-4da6-5b10-8a25-5b1691268d33-9440428.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/04\/28\/1920x1080_cmsv2_4bccc72c-4da6-5b10-8a25-5b1691268d33-9440428.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A selection of some of the false headlines spread as part of the disinformation campaign<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Some of the misleading headlines include the supposed bankruptcy of Ukraine, allegations that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was spotted taking cocaine, and accusations that Brussels will interfere in the Czech elections.<\/p>\n<p>Other articles contain threats of a nuclear attack by Russia if Ukraine and NATO continue to resist against Moscow's war, and others even contain bizarre claims that environmental campaigners are pushing for cannibalism<\/p>\n<p>Ultimately, the goal of such headlines is to try and muster distrust in Western democracy and political leaders, and to try and generate a more positive public opinion towards Russia.\u00a0<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1756389179,"updatedAt":1756717159,"publishedAt":1756717156,"firstPublishedAt":1756717156,"lastPublishedAt":1756717156,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/04\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e4166e3c-f728-5f01-ab85-27d040cc9367-9440428.jpg","altText":"Several hundreds of people gather in Prague, Czech Republic, 21 Aug 2025, to commemorate the anniversary of the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968","caption":"Several hundreds of people gather in Prague, Czech Republic, 21 Aug 2025, to commemorate the anniversary of the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Petr David Josek\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/44\/04\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_4bccc72c-4da6-5b10-8a25-5b1691268d33-9440428.jpg","altText":"A selection of some of the false headlines spread as part of the disinformation campaign","caption":"A selection of some of the false headlines spread as part of the disinformation campaign","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":26642,"slug":"fact-checking","urlSafeValue":"fact-checking","title":"Fact checking","titleRaw":"Fact checking"},{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":239,"slug":"russia","urlSafeValue":"russia","title":"Russia","titleRaw":"Russia"},{"id":12747,"slug":"fake-news","urlSafeValue":"fake-news","title":"fake news","titleRaw":"fake news"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2851270}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"UM5lBYTEf04","dailymotionId":"x9ps7qe"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/23\/46\/19\/06\/ED_PYR_2346196_20250901072210.mp4","editor":"","duration":109240,"filesizeBytes":17921045,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/23\/46\/19\/06\/SHD_PYR_2346196_20250901072210.mp4","editor":"","duration":109240,"filesizeBytes":25910487,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/23\/46\/19\/06\/FHD_PYR_2346196_20250901072210.mp4","editor":"","duration":109240,"filesizeBytes":84090811,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"euro-verify","urlSafeValue":"euro-verify","title":"EuroVerify","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/my-europe-series\/euro-verify"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"my-europe","verticals":[{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},"themes":[{"id":"my-europe-series","urlSafeValue":"my-europe-series","title":"My Europe Series","url":"\/my-europe\/my-europe-series"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":60,"urlSafeValue":"my-europe-series","title":"Europe Series"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/my-europe\/2025\/09\/01\/russian-propaganda-is-overtaking-legitimate-news-in-the-czech-republic","lastModified":1756717156},{"id":2826344,"cid":9436640,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NC5 CZECH REPUBLIC LUCY SKELETON FIRST TIME IN EUROPE","daletPyramidId":2524669,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":5},{"id":6},{"id":8},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Lucy and Selam fossils go on display in Europe for the first time","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Lucy and Selam fossils go on display in Europe for the first time","titleListing2":"Lucy and Selam fossils go on display in Europe for the first time","leadin":"For the first time in history, two of the world\u2019s most famous hominin fossils, \u2018Lucy\u2019 and \u2018Selam\u2019, have travelled from Ethiopia to Europe for public display.","summary":"For the first time in history, two of the world\u2019s most famous hominin fossils, \u2018Lucy\u2019 and \u2018Selam\u2019, have travelled from Ethiopia to Europe for public display.","keySentence":"","url":"lucy-and-selam-fossils-go-on-display-in-europe-for-the-first-time","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/08\/26\/lucy-and-selam-fossils-go-on-display-in-europe-for-the-first-time","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The 3.2-million-year-old Lucy and the juvenile remains of Selam are now on show at the National Museum in Prague as the centrepieces of a new exhibition, People and Their Ancestors. Their discovery transformed the understanding of human evolution, revealing early evidence of upright walking.\n\nUsually considered national treasures and rarely moved, Lucy has only left Ethiopia once before, while Selam has never been exhibited abroad. The Prague showcase runs until late October and has already drawn large crowds.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The 3.2-million-year-old Lucy and the juvenile remains of Selam are now on show at the National Museum in Prague as the centrepieces of a new exhibition, <em>People and Their Ancestors<\/em>. Their discovery transformed the understanding of human evolution, revealing early evidence of upright walking.<\/p>\n<p>Usually considered national treasures and rarely moved, Lucy has only left Ethiopia once before, while Selam has never been exhibited abroad. The Prague showcase runs until late October and has already drawn large crowds.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1756212734,"updatedAt":1756217356,"publishedAt":1756217259,"firstPublishedAt":1756217259,"lastPublishedAt":1756217259,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/43\/66\/40\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e8bca2c2-420b-5ee2-952e-0e859db1e723-9436640.jpg","altText":"Three dimensional model of 3.2 million-year-old hominid \"Lucy\" is seen during an opening of an exhibition at the National Museum in Prague, Czech Republic, Aug. 25, 2025.","caption":"Three dimensional model of 3.2 million-year-old hominid \"Lucy\" is seen during an opening of an exhibition at the National Museum in Prague, Czech Republic, Aug. 25, 2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Petr David 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commemorates 1968 Soviet-led occupation of Czechoslovakia","titleListing2":"Prague commemorates 1968 Soviet-led occupation of Czechoslovakia","leadin":"The Czech Republic marked the anniversary of the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia on Thursday with memorial events in Prague and across the country.","summary":"The Czech Republic marked the anniversary of the 1968 Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia on Thursday with memorial events in Prague and across the country.","keySentence":"","url":"prague-commemorates-1968-soviet-led-occupation-of-czechoslovakia","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/08\/21\/prague-commemorates-1968-soviet-led-occupation-of-czechoslovakia","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"At a ceremony outside the Czech Radio building, where major clashes took place 57 years ago, President Petr Pavel warned against distorting history and said remembering past events helps honour those who fought for freedom. \n\nPrime Minister Petr Fiala, Senate President Milo\u0161 Vystr\u010dil and other senior officials laid wreaths while funeral music played.\n\nVystr\u010dil said 1968 should serve as a reminder that those who put power before their country must not lead. The invasion by Soviet, Bulgarian, Hungarian and Polish troops brought an end to reform efforts and began a period of censorship, political purges and restricted freedoms.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>At a ceremony outside the Czech Radio building, where major clashes took place 57 years ago, President Petr Pavel warned against distorting history and said remembering past events helps honour those who fought for freedom. <\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Senate President Milo\u0161 Vystr\u010dil and other senior officials laid wreaths while funeral music played.<\/p>\n<p>Vystr\u010dil said 1968 should serve as a reminder that those who put power before their country must not lead. The invasion by Soviet, Bulgarian, Hungarian and Polish troops brought an end to reform efforts and began a period of censorship, political purges and restricted freedoms.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1755782318,"updatedAt":1755787948,"publishedAt":1755787819,"firstPublishedAt":1755787819,"lastPublishedAt":1755787819,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/42\/98\/03\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f637b4db-0c77-51a2-879c-3a857531522b-9429803.jpg","altText":"SCREENSHOT - Czech Republic honours victims of the 1968 Soviet occupation","caption":"SCREENSHOT - Czech Republic honours victims of the 1968 Soviet occupation","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Ceska Televize via EVN","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":19328,"slug":"czechia","urlSafeValue":"czechia","title":" Czechia","titleRaw":" 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Lama","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"China cuts ties with Czech president over meeting with Dalai Lama","titleListing2":"China cuts ties with Czech President Petr Pavel over meeting with Dalai Lama","leadin":"Beijing says it has \"lodged serious protests with the Czech side\" after Petr Pavel travelled to India to congratulate the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday.","summary":"Beijing says it has \"lodged serious protests with the Czech side\" after Petr Pavel travelled to India to congratulate the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday.","keySentence":"","url":"china-cuts-ties-with-czech-president-petr-pavel-over-meeting-with-dalai-lama","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/08\/13\/china-cuts-ties-with-czech-president-petr-pavel-over-meeting-with-dalai-lama","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"China says it has suspended all ties with Czech President Petr Pavel over his recent meeting with the Dalai Lama, further straining relations between Beijing and Prague.\n\nDuring a private trip to India last month, Pavel met the exiled Tibetan leader to congratulate him on his 90th birthday. \n\nThe Dalai Lama has been living in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala since fleeing Chinese rule in Tibet in 1959. Beijing sees Tibet as part of its territory and accuses the spiritual leader of being a separatist.\n\nThe meeting \"seriously contravenes the political commitment made by the Czech government to the Chinese government, and harms China\u2019s sovereignty and territorial integrity,\" the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.\n\n\"China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this, and has lodged serious protests with the Czech side. In light of the severity of Pavel\u2019s provocative action, China decides to cease all engagement with him,\" it added.\n\nThe Czech presidential office did not immediately respond to Beijing's statement.\n\nPrior to the meeting, the office said the Dalai Lama had invited Pavel to visit and that no one from Prague had accompanied him to India. \n\n\"President Pavel took the opportunity to separate from the delegation during his return from a working visit to Japan to personally congratulate the Dalai Lama,\" the presidential office said last month. \n\nThe Czech presidency is a largely ceremonial but prestigious post. Late Czech President Vaclav Havel, the nation's first post-communist leader, was a friend of the Dalai Lama.\n\nTies between China and the Czech Republic have deteriorated in recent years.\n\nShortly after his election as Czech president in January 2023, Pavel angered Beijing by having a phone call with Taiwan's then-president Tsai Ing-wen. \n\nThe Czech Republic, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but it maintains robust informal contacts with the self-governing democracy, which Beijing views as its own territory despite Taipei's rejection.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>China says it has suspended all ties with Czech President Petr Pavel over his recent meeting with the Dalai Lama, further straining relations between Beijing and Prague.<\/p>\n<p>During a private trip to India last month, Pavel met the exiled Tibetan leader to congratulate him on his 90th birthday. <\/p>\n<p>The Dalai Lama has been living in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala since fleeing Chinese rule in Tibet in 1959. Beijing sees Tibet as part of its territory and accuses the spiritual leader of being a separatist.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting \"seriously contravenes the political commitment made by the Czech government to the Chinese government, and harms China\u2019s sovereignty and territorial integrity,\" the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>\"China strongly deplores and firmly opposes this, and has lodged serious protests with the Czech side. In light of the severity of Pavel\u2019s provocative action, China decides to cease all engagement with him,\" it added.<\/p>\n<p>The Czech presidential office did not immediately respond to Beijing's statement.<\/p>\n<p>Prior to the meeting, the office said the Dalai Lama had invited Pavel to visit and that no one from Prague had accompanied him to India. <\/p>\n<p>\"President Pavel took the opportunity to separate from the delegation during his return from a working visit to Japan to personally congratulate the Dalai Lama,\" the presidential office said last month. <\/p>\n<p>The Czech presidency is a largely ceremonial but prestigious post. Late Czech President Vaclav Havel, the nation's first post-communist leader, was a friend of the Dalai Lama.<\/p>\n<p>Ties between China and the Czech Republic have deteriorated in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly after his election as Czech president in January 2023, Pavel angered Beijing by having a phone call with Taiwan's then-president Tsai Ing-wen. <\/p>\n<p>The Czech Republic, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but it maintains robust informal contacts with the self-governing democracy, which Beijing views as its own territory despite Taipei's rejection.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1755069985,"updatedAt":1755115139,"publishedAt":1755074661,"firstPublishedAt":1755074661,"lastPublishedAt":1755074661,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/81\/48\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_7aeca929-44c7-5370-a7de-8e4e98b32a92-9418148.jpg","altText":"The Czech Republic's Petr Pavel arrives for a political debate in Prague, 25 January 2023","caption":"The Czech Republic's Petr Pavel arrives for a political debate in Prague, 25 January 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/41\/81\/48\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_336c95a2-d47a-557e-ad82-bd08aeb96ea7-9418148.jpg","altText":"FILE: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama gestures during his 90th birthday celebrations at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamshala, India, Sunday, July 6, 2025.","caption":"FILE: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama gestures during his 90th birthday celebrations at the Tsuglakhang temple in Dharamshala, India, Sunday, July 6, 2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Ashwini Bhatia\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved.","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":576}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3238,"urlSafeValue":"guilbert","title":"Kieran Guilbert","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":4678,"slug":"dalai-lama","urlSafeValue":"dalai-lama","title":"Dalai Lama","titleRaw":"Dalai Lama"},{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":311,"slug":"china","urlSafeValue":"china","title":"China","titleRaw":"China"},{"id":28070,"slug":"petr-pavel","urlSafeValue":"petr-pavel","title":"Petr Pavel","titleRaw":"Petr Pavel"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2817034},{"id":2815084},{"id":2813661}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"AfeQUQ40mA0","dailymotionId":"x9opcxc"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/22\/22\/32\/02\/ED_PYR_2222322_20250813162659.mp4","editor":"","duration":63560,"filesizeBytes":12189088,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/22\/22\/32\/02\/SHD_PYR_2222322_20250813162659.mp4","editor":"","duration":63560,"filesizeBytes":17083872,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/22\/22\/32\/02\/FHD_PYR_2222322_20250813162659.mp4","editor":"","duration":63560,"filesizeBytes":51225611,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"},{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/08\/13\/china-cuts-ties-with-czech-president-petr-pavel-over-meeting-with-dalai-lama","lastModified":1755074661},{"id":2821641,"cid":9408955,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NC8 CZECHIA RARE LION CUBS","daletPyramidId":2349839,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":6},{"id":8},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"\u2018Extinct in the wild\u2019 Barbary lion cubs in Czech zoo prepare for relocation","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"\u2018Extinct in the wild\u2019 Barbary lion cubs in Czech zoo to be relocated ","titleListing2":"\u2018Extinct in the wild\u2019 Barbary lion cubs in Czech zoo to be relocated ","leadin":"Four rare Barbary lion cubs are set to leave Safari Park Dv\u016fr Kr\u00e1lov\u00e9 as part of an international effort to protect the critically endangered subspecies.","summary":"Four rare Barbary lion cubs are set to leave Safari Park Dv\u016fr Kr\u00e1lov\u00e9 as part of an international effort to protect the critically endangered subspecies.","keySentence":"","url":"extinct-in-the-wild-barbary-lion-cubs-in-czech-zoo-prepare-for-relocation","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/08\/07\/extinct-in-the-wild-barbary-lion-cubs-in-czech-zoo-prepare-for-relocation","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The cubs, three females and one male, have spent recent weeks in the Czech zoo\u2019s outdoor enclosure with their parents, Khalila and Bart. They will soon be transferred to other zoos involved in the breeding programme, including Beersheba Zoo in Israel.\n\nBarbary lions once roamed across North Africa but were declared extinct in the wild by the 1960s. Fewer than 200 are thought to remain in captivity worldwide.\n\nEarly discussions have taken place with Moroccan authorities about a possible reintroduction of the Barbary lion to its natural habitat. A conference of experts is planned later this year or in early 2026 to explore whether such a move could be viable.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The cubs, three females and one male, have spent recent weeks in the Czech zoo\u2019s outdoor enclosure with their parents, Khalila and Bart. They will soon be transferred to other zoos involved in the breeding programme, including Beersheba Zoo in Israel.<\/p>\n<p>Barbary lions once roamed across North Africa but were declared extinct in the wild by the 1960s. Fewer than 200 are thought to remain in captivity worldwide.<\/p>\n<p>Early discussions have taken place with Moroccan authorities about a possible reintroduction of the Barbary lion to its natural habitat. A conference of experts is planned later this year or in early 2026 to explore whether such a move could be viable.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1754495186,"updatedAt":1754566777,"publishedAt":1754556763,"firstPublishedAt":1754556763,"lastPublishedAt":1754566777,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/40\/89\/55\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a447abaa-47ba-53df-a222-e2808cdba4e8-9408955.jpg","altText":"Male Barbary lion Bart and female Khalila rest in their enclosure, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. ","caption":"Male Barbary lion Bart and female Khalila rest in their enclosure, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. 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Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/video\/2025\/08\/07\/extinct-in-the-wild-barbary-lion-cubs-in-czech-zoo-prepare-for-relocation","lastModified":1754566777},{"id":2817034,"cid":9378957,"versionId":3,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CZECHIA COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA BAN","daletPyramidId":2170162,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Czech President Petr Pavel signs law criminalising communist propaganda","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Czech president signs law criminalising communist propaganda","titleListing2":"Czech President Petr Pavel signs law criminalising communist propaganda","leadin":"The changes come following calls from some Czech institutions, including the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, to correct what they said was an imbalance in the legal system.","summary":"The changes come following calls from some Czech institutions, including the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, to correct what they said was an imbalance in the legal system.","keySentence":"","url":"czech-president-petr-pavel-signs-law-criminalising-communist-propaganda","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/07\/18\/czech-president-petr-pavel-signs-law-criminalising-communist-propaganda","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The president of the Czech Republic has signed an amendment to the criminal code that criminalises the promotion of communist propaganda, putting it on a similar level to Nazi ideology.\n\nThe revised legislation signed by Petr Pavel allows judges to hand down prison sentences of up to five years for anyone who \"establishes, supports or promotes Nazi, communist, or other movements which demonstrably aim to suppress human rights and freedoms or incite racial, ethnic, national, religious or class-based hatred.\"\n\nThe changes follow calls from some Czech institutions, including the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, to correct what they described as an imbalance in the legal system.\n\nBut the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KS\u010cM), which is led by MEP Kate\u0159ina Kone\u010dn\u00e1, condemned the move as politically motivated.\n\n\"This is yet another failed attempt to push KS\u010cM outside the law and intimidate critics of the current regime,\" the party\u00a0said in a statement.\n\nIt's not clear yet how the new law could be applied to legitimate political parties like KS\u010cM.\n\nThe party currently holds no seats in parliament, but recent polls put its \"Sta\u010dilo\" (Enough) alliance at 5%,\u00a0which would be enough to see it return to the lower house in October's elections.\n\nThe Czech Republic was part of the former Czechoslovakia and in post-WWII Europe came under the umbrella of the Soviet Union.\n\nIt was led by the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KS\u010c) until the 1989 Velvet Revolution brought an end to 41 years of one-party rule and ushered in a transition to a parliamentary republic.\n\nAt the last election in 2021, the KS\u010cM failed to win more than 5% of the vote, meaning the Czech parliament had no Communist delegates for the first time since 1920.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The president of the Czech Republic has signed an amendment to the criminal code that criminalises the promotion of communist propaganda, putting it on a similar level to Nazi ideology.<\/p>\n<p>The revised legislation signed by Petr Pavel allows judges to hand down prison sentences of up to five years for anyone who \"establishes, supports or promotes Nazi, communist, or other movements which demonstrably aim to suppress human rights and freedoms or incite racial, ethnic, national, religious or class-based hatred.\"<\/p>\n<p>The changes follow calls from some Czech institutions, including the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes, to correct what they described as an imbalance in the legal system.<\/p>\n<p>But the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KS\u010cM), which is led by MEP Kate\u0159ina Kone\u010dn\u00e1, condemned the move as politically motivated.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6525\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//08//85//71//04//808x528_cmsv2_adea1318-4e5d-53b5-8921-08d008955424-8857104.jpg/" alt=\"Around 200,000 people gather in Prague in protests led to the resignation of the Communist Party's leadership, 21 November, 1989 \" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/85\/71\/04\/384x251_cmsv2_adea1318-4e5d-53b5-8921-08d008955424-8857104.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/85\/71\/04\/640x418_cmsv2_adea1318-4e5d-53b5-8921-08d008955424-8857104.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/85\/71\/04\/750x489_cmsv2_adea1318-4e5d-53b5-8921-08d008955424-8857104.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/85\/71\/04\/828x540_cmsv2_adea1318-4e5d-53b5-8921-08d008955424-8857104.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/85\/71\/04\/1080x705_cmsv2_adea1318-4e5d-53b5-8921-08d008955424-8857104.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/85\/71\/04\/1200x783_cmsv2_adea1318-4e5d-53b5-8921-08d008955424-8857104.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/85\/71\/04\/1920x1253_cmsv2_adea1318-4e5d-53b5-8921-08d008955424-8857104.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Around 200,000 people gather in Prague in protests led to the resignation of the Communist Party's leadership, 21 November, 1989 <\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>\"This is yet another failed attempt to push KS\u010cM outside the law and intimidate critics of the current regime,\" the party\u00a0said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p>It's not clear yet how the new law could be applied to legitimate political parties like KS\u010cM.<\/p>\n<p>The party currently holds no seats in parliament, but recent polls put its \"Sta\u010dilo\" (Enough) alliance at 5%,\u00a0which would be enough to see it return to the lower house in October's elections.<\/p>\n<p>The Czech Republic was part of the former Czechoslovakia and in post-WWII Europe came under the umbrella of the Soviet Union.<\/p>\n<p>It was led by the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KS\u010c) until the 1989 Velvet Revolution brought an end to 41 years of one-party rule and ushered in a transition to a parliamentary republic.<\/p>\n<p>At the last election in 2021, the KS\u010cM failed to win more than 5% of the vote, meaning the Czech parliament had no Communist delegates for the first time since 1920.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1752848331,"updatedAt":1753283764,"publishedAt":1752850961,"firstPublishedAt":1752850961,"lastPublishedAt":1753283764,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/37\/89\/57\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_7d948575-8833-5ecf-9c2b-c7bb38b5497b-9378957.jpg","altText":"Czech President Petr Pavel addresses a media conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, 21 May, 2025","caption":"Czech President Petr Pavel addresses a media conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, 21 May, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1125},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/08\/85\/71\/04\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_adea1318-4e5d-53b5-8921-08d008955424-8857104.jpg","altText":"Around 200,000 people gather in Prague in protests led to the resignation of the Communist Party's leadership, 21 November, 1989 ","caption":"Around 200,000 people gather in Prague in protests led to the resignation of the Communist Party's leadership, 21 November, 1989 ","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1305}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3467,"urlSafeValue":"gavin.blackburn@euronews.com","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":10653,"slug":"czech-politics","urlSafeValue":"czech-politics","title":"Czech politics","titleRaw":"Czech politics"},{"id":4602,"slug":"communism","urlSafeValue":"communism","title":"Communism","titleRaw":"Communism"},{"id":10075,"slug":"nazism","urlSafeValue":"nazism","title":"Nazism","titleRaw":"Nazism"},{"id":14618,"slug":"propaganda","urlSafeValue":"propaganda","title":"Propaganda","titleRaw":"Propaganda"},{"id":28070,"slug":"petr-pavel","urlSafeValue":"petr-pavel","title":"Petr Pavel","titleRaw":"Petr Pavel"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2813661},{"id":2811358},{"id":2823192}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/europe-news\/europe-news"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"my-europe","verticals":[{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},"themes":[{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/my-europe\/europe-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":56,"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":{"id":2062,"urlSafeValue":"prague","title":"Prague"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/my-europe\/2025\/07\/18\/czech-president-petr-pavel-signs-law-criminalising-communist-propaganda","lastModified":1753283764},{"id":2815084,"cid":9365633,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NEXT WIRE DEEPSEEK CZECH","daletPyramidId":2087928,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Czech Republic bans Chinese AI startup DeepSeek in government work over cybersecurity concerns","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Czech Republic bans Chinese AI startup DeepSeek in government work","titleListing2":"Czech Republic bans Chinese AI startup DeepSeek in government work over cybersecurity concerns","leadin":"The move follows similar steps by some other countries, including Italy and Australia.","summary":"The move follows similar steps by some other countries, including Italy and Australia.","keySentence":"","url":"czech-republic-bans-chinese-ai-startup-deepseek-in-government-work-over-cybersecurity-conc","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/next\/2025\/07\/10\/czech-republic-bans-chinese-ai-startup-deepseek-in-government-work-over-cybersecurity-conc","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The Czech Republic has banned the use of any products by the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup DeepSeek in state administration over cybersecurity concerns, authorities said Wednesday.\n\nCzech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the government acted after receiving a warning from the national cybersecurity watchdog. The watchdog flagged a threat of unauthorised access to users\u2019 data because DeepSeek is obliged to cooperate with Chinese state authorities.\n\nThe move follows similar steps made by some other countries that aimed to protect users\u2019 data, including Italy, which in January blocked access to the chatbot, as well as Australia.\n\nLast month, a German privacy official called on Apple and Google to ban DeepSeek from its app stores over privacy concerns.\n\nThe Czech government has distanced itself from some Chinese technology in recent years. In 2018, it stopped using the hardware and software made by telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE after a warning they posed a security threat.\n\nDeepSeek was founded in 2023 in Hangzhou, China, and released its first AI large language model later that year.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The Czech Republic has banned the use of any products by the Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup DeepSeek in state administration over cybersecurity concerns, authorities said Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said the government acted after receiving a warning from the national cybersecurity watchdog. The watchdog flagged a threat of unauthorised access to users\u2019 data because <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//next//2025//01//28//what-is-deepseek-the-ai-chatbot-from-china-that-is-sending-shockwaves-through-the-tech-wor/">DeepSeek is obliged<\/strong><\/a> to cooperate with Chinese state authorities.<\/p>\n<p>The move follows similar steps made by some other countries that aimed to protect users\u2019 data, including Italy, which in January blocked access to the chatbot, as well as Australia.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"9025736\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//next//2025//02//03//deepseek-which-countries-have-restricted-the-chinese-ai-company-or-are-questioning-it/">DeepSeek: Which countries have restricted the Chinese AI company or are questioning it? <\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Last month, a German privacy official <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//next//2025//06//27//german-official-urges-apple-and-google-to-ban-ai-company-deepseek-citing-privacy-concerns/">called on Apple and Google<\/strong><\/a> to ban DeepSeek from its app stores over privacy concerns.<\/p>\n<p>The Czech government has distanced itself from some Chinese technology in recent years. In 2018, it stopped using the hardware and software made by telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE after a warning they posed a security threat.<\/p>\n<p>DeepSeek was founded in 2023 in Hangzhou, China, and released its first AI large language model later that year.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1752132669,"updatedAt":1752134831,"publishedAt":1752133600,"firstPublishedAt":1752133600,"lastPublishedAt":1752133600,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/36\/56\/33\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_951d53cf-4e9e-5d51-aa10-aca1c9ef7ea5-9365633.jpg","altText":"The Czech Republic\u2019s Prime Minister Petr Fiala is pictured in November 2024.","caption":"The Czech Republic\u2019s Prime Minister Petr Fiala is pictured in November 2024.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Darko Vojinovic\/AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1562,"height":878}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":30324,"slug":"deepseek","urlSafeValue":"deepseek","title":"DeepSeek","titleRaw":"DeepSeek"},{"id":12661,"slug":"artificial-intelligence","urlSafeValue":"artificial-intelligence","title":"Artificial intelligence","titleRaw":"Artificial intelligence"},{"id":28266,"slug":"ai","urlSafeValue":"ai","title":"AI","titleRaw":"AI"},{"id":311,"slug":"china","urlSafeValue":"china","title":"China","titleRaw":"China"},{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":389,"slug":"technology","urlSafeValue":"technology","title":"Technology","titleRaw":"Technology"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2814840}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"tech-news","urlSafeValue":"tech-news","title":"Tech News","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/next\/tech-news\/tech-news"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"next","verticals":[{"id":9,"slug":"next","urlSafeValue":"next","title":"Next"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":9,"slug":"next","urlSafeValue":"next","title":"Next"},"themes":[{"id":"tech-news","urlSafeValue":"tech-news","title":"Tech News","url":"\/next\/tech-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":40,"urlSafeValue":"tech-news","title":"Tech News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/next\/2025\/07\/10\/czech-republic-bans-chinese-ai-startup-deepseek-in-government-work-over-cybersecurity-conc","lastModified":1752133600},{"id":2813661,"cid":9356934,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"PRAGUE BLACKOUT","daletPyramidId":2033597,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Major power outage in Czech Republic halts Prague metro and trams, cause unknown","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Major power outage in Czech Republic halts Prague metro and trams","titleListing2":"Large blackout in the Czech Republic - Prague, among other cities, is without electricity ","leadin":"A power outage hit parts of Prague and the Czech Republic, halting public transport and trains. Prime Minister Petr Fiala said authorities are investigating the cause.","summary":"A power outage hit parts of Prague and the Czech Republic, halting public transport and trains. Prime Minister Petr Fiala said authorities are investigating the cause.","keySentence":"","url":"major-power-outage-in-czech-republic-halts-prague-metro-and-trams-causes-unknown","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/07\/04\/major-power-outage-in-czech-republic-halts-prague-metro-and-trams-causes-unknown","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A temporary power outage hit parts of Prague and other areas of the Czech Republic on Friday, bringing public transport and trains to a standstill, officials said.\n\nPrague's entire metro network was inoperative starting at noon, the capital city's transport authority said. But the A and C lines were restored in about 15 minutes while the B line was back in about 30 minutes, it said.\n\nMost trams on the right bank of the Vltava River in Prague were halted, while those on the left bank were not affected. Some trains near Prague and in other regions were unable to operate.\n\nThe V\u00e1clav Havel Airport, the capital's international airport, was not hit by the power outage, according to Czech media.\n\nPrime Minister Petr Fiala stated in a post on X that the outage affected other parts of the country, and authorities were working to resolve the issue. \"We are investigating the causes and solving the problem,\" Fiala said.\n\nThe regions of \u00dast\u00ed, Liberec and Hradec Kr\u00e1lov\u00e9 reported problems with power outages, \u010cEPS power grid operator and domestic media reported.\n\nCzech hospitals were immediately switched to an emergency power supply, according to Health Minister Vlastimil Valek.\n\n\"I want to reassure everyone. Healthcare facilities have clear procedures for such situations. Backup generators have been activated in the affected hospitals. Patient care is not at risk,\" Valek wrote in a post on X.\n\nIt was not immediately clear what caused the issue. However, officials ruled out a cyber attack.\n\nEarlier this week, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CzHMU) warned that temperatures could reach 37 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country this week.\n\nAuthorities have warned of potential dangers associated with high temperatures, including the risk of fires.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>A temporary power outage hit parts of Prague and other areas of the Czech Republic on Friday, bringing public transport and trains to a standstill, officials said.<\/p>\n<p>Prague's entire metro network was inoperative starting at noon, the capital city's transport authority said. But the A and C lines were restored in about 15 minutes while the B line was back in about 30 minutes, it said.<\/p>\n<p>Most trams on the right bank of the Vltava River in Prague were halted, while those on the left bank were not affected. Some trains near Prague and in other regions were unable to operate.<\/p>\n<p>The V\u00e1clav Havel Airport, the capital's international airport, was not hit by the power outage, according to Czech media.<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Petr Fiala stated in a post on X that the outage affected other parts of the country, and authorities were working to resolve the issue. \"We are investigating the causes and solving the problem,\" Fiala said.<\/p>\n<p>The regions of \u00dast\u00ed, Liberec and Hradec Kr\u00e1lov\u00e9 reported problems with power outages, \u010cEPS power grid operator and domestic media reported.<\/p>\n<p>Czech hospitals were immediately switched to an emergency power supply, according to Health Minister Vlastimil Valek.<\/p>\n<p>\"I want to reassure everyone. Healthcare facilities have clear procedures for such situations. Backup generators have been activated in the affected hospitals. Patient care is not at risk,\" Valek wrote in a post on X.<\/p>\n<p>It was not immediately clear what caused the issue. However, officials ruled out a cyber attack.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this week, the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CzHMU) warned that temperatures could reach 37 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country this week.<\/p>\n<p>Authorities have warned of potential dangers associated with high temperatures, including the risk of fires.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1751629847,"updatedAt":1751644006,"publishedAt":1751631652,"firstPublishedAt":1751631652,"lastPublishedAt":1751631682,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/35\/69\/34\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_890c7bf4-4fa9-5542-98d6-b17b8cdb8bf0-9356934.jpg","altText":"High-voltage power line pylons are seen as Czech Republic faces a major electricity blackout near Benesov, 4 July 2025","caption":"High-voltage power line pylons are seen as Czech Republic faces a major electricity blackout near Benesov, 4 July 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP 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Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":{"id":1,"slug":"deepl","isActive":1},"localisation":{"producerLanguage":"en","storyId":9356934,"online":1},"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":1,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/my-europe\/2025\/07\/04\/major-power-outage-in-czech-republic-halts-prague-metro-and-trams-causes-unknown","lastModified":1751631682},{"id":2812862,"cid":9351629,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NC5 CZECH REPUBLIC ZOO ICE","daletPyramidId":1999480,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Prague Zoo uses tonnes of ice to cool animals during heatwave","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Prague Zoo uses tonnes of ice to cool animals during heatwave","titleListing2":"Prague Zoo uses tonnes of ice to cool animals during heatwave","leadin":"As temperatures in Prague climbed above 34\u00b0C on Tuesday, Prague Zoo delivered 10 tonnes of ice to help its animals cope with the sweltering summer heat.","summary":"As temperatures in Prague climbed above 34\u00b0C on Tuesday, Prague Zoo delivered 10 tonnes of ice to help its animals cope with the sweltering summer heat.","keySentence":"","url":"prague-zoo-uses-tonnes-of-ice-to-cool-animals-during-heatwave","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/07\/01\/prague-zoo-uses-tonnes-of-ice-to-cool-animals-during-heatwave","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Polar bears Aleut and Gregor, more at home in the Arctic than under the Czech sun, cooled off by rolling and lounging in the ice scattered throughout their open-air enclosure.\n\nZoo director Miroslav Bobek said ice would likely be needed for at least ten days this summer, depending on the forecast. He said polar bears remain a particular concern during periods of extreme heat.\n\nThe zoo applies \u201ccommon sense\u201d when choosing which animals receive ice, prioritising those from colder regions and others that benefit from the cooling or simply enjoy playing in it.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Polar bears Aleut and Gregor, more at home in the Arctic than under the Czech sun, cooled off by rolling and lounging in the ice scattered throughout their open-air enclosure.<\/p>\n<p>Zoo director Miroslav Bobek said ice would likely be needed for at least ten days this summer, depending on the forecast. He said polar bears remain a particular concern during periods of extreme heat.<\/p>\n<p>The zoo applies \u201ccommon sense\u201d when choosing which animals receive ice, prioritising those from colder regions and others that benefit from the cooling or simply enjoy playing in it.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1751379339,"updatedAt":1751385192,"publishedAt":1751385091,"firstPublishedAt":1751385091,"lastPublishedAt":1751385091,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/35\/16\/29\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_07172047-32a6-57ae-9b0b-6d93165262c7-9351629.jpg","altText":"A polar bear cools down on a pile of ice that was brought to its enclosure on a hot and sunny day at the Prague zoo, Czech Republic, Tuesday, July 1, 2025.","caption":"A polar bear cools down on a pile of ice that was brought to its enclosure on a hot and sunny day at the Prague zoo, Czech Republic, Tuesday, July 1, 2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Petr David Josek","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1124}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":17856,"slug":"extreme-weather","urlSafeValue":"extreme-weather","title":"Extreme weather","titleRaw":"Extreme 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Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/video\/2025\/07\/01\/prague-zoo-uses-tonnes-of-ice-to-cool-animals-during-heatwave","lastModified":1751385091},{"id":2811358,"cid":9343173,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CZECH TEENS ISIS","daletPyramidId":1937183,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Czech police detain five teens over online radicalisation by so-called Islamic State group","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Czech authorities detain five teens over radicalisation by IS group","titleListing2":"Czech authorities detain five teens over online radicalisation by so-called Islamic State","leadin":"During raids in Czech Republic and Austria, police seized weapons including knives, machetes and axes.","summary":"During raids in Czech Republic and Austria, police seized weapons including knives, machetes and axes.","keySentence":"","url":"czech-police-detain-five-teens-over-online-radicalisation-by-so-called-islamic-state-group","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2025\/06\/25\/czech-police-detain-five-teens-over-online-radicalisation-by-so-called-islamic-state-group","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Authorities in the Czech Republic have detained five teenagers for allegedly being radicalised online by the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group. \n\nTwo of them were charged with terror-related offences over an attempt to set fire to a synagogue last year, officials said on Wednesday.\n\nB\u0159etislav Brejcha, the director of the Czech counterterrorism, extremism and cybercrime department, said most of the suspects were under 18 years old.\n\nThey were detained between February and June as a result of an international investigation that began last year.\n\nOn 29 January 2024, two of the five tried to set a synagogue on fire in the Czech Republic's second largest city Brno, Brejcha said, without offering further details.\n\nCzech media reports from February 2024 said two suspects placed a firebomb in front of the synagogue but that it did not explode. \n\nThe charges against the two teenagers include hate-related crimes, promotion and support of terrorism and an attempted terror attack.\n\nThey and the other detainees were all involved in online groups recruiting fighters for IS militants in Syria, Brejcha said.\n\nCzech authorities worked with their counterparts in Austria, the UK, Slovakia as well as with the European Union\u2019s law enforcement agency Europol in the case, he added.\n\nSeven raids took place in the Czech Republic and Austria, in which police seized weapons including knives, machetes and axes. \n\nMichal Koudelka, the head of the Czech counterintelligence agency BIS, said the five suspects shared a fascination with violence and hatred against Jews, LGBTQ+ people and others.\n\nThey were approached online by Islamic State members and became radicalised, Koudelka said.\n\n\"We consider online radicalisation of the youth a very dangerous trend,\" Koudelka said, adding that the suspects had not been in touch with the local Muslim community.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Authorities in the Czech Republic have detained five teenagers for allegedly being radicalised online by the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group. <\/p>\n<p>Two of them were charged with terror-related offences over an attempt to set fire to a synagogue last year, officials said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>B\u0159etislav Brejcha, the director of the Czech counterterrorism, extremism and cybercrime department, said most of the suspects were under 18 years old.<\/p>\n<p>They were detained between February and June as a result of an international investigation that began last year.<\/p>\n<p>On 29 January 2024, two of the five tried to set a synagogue on fire in the Czech Republic's second largest city Brno, Brejcha said, without offering further details.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//34//31//73//808x539_cmsv2_0b7c44ad-d43f-583c-b2d9-23b006173af7-9343173.jpg/" alt=\"A man accused of being an IS fighter in a prison in northeastern Syria, 31 January, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/34\/31\/73\/384x256_cmsv2_0b7c44ad-d43f-583c-b2d9-23b006173af7-9343173.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/34\/31\/73\/640x427_cmsv2_0b7c44ad-d43f-583c-b2d9-23b006173af7-9343173.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/34\/31\/73\/750x500_cmsv2_0b7c44ad-d43f-583c-b2d9-23b006173af7-9343173.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/34\/31\/73\/828x552_cmsv2_0b7c44ad-d43f-583c-b2d9-23b006173af7-9343173.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/34\/31\/73\/1080x720_cmsv2_0b7c44ad-d43f-583c-b2d9-23b006173af7-9343173.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/34\/31\/73\/1200x800_cmsv2_0b7c44ad-d43f-583c-b2d9-23b006173af7-9343173.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/34\/31\/73\/1920x1280_cmsv2_0b7c44ad-d43f-583c-b2d9-23b006173af7-9343173.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A man accused of being an IS fighter in a prison in northeastern Syria, 31 January, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Czech media reports from February 2024 said two suspects placed a firebomb in front of the synagogue but that it did not explode. <\/p>\n<p>The charges against the two teenagers include hate-related crimes, promotion and support of terrorism and an attempted terror attack.<\/p>\n<p>They and the other detainees were all involved in online groups recruiting fighters for IS militants in Syria, Brejcha said.<\/p>\n<p>Czech authorities worked with their counterparts in Austria, the UK, Slovakia as well as with the European Union\u2019s law enforcement agency Europol in the case, he added.<\/p>\n<p>Seven raids took place in the Czech Republic and Austria, in which police seized weapons including knives, machetes and axes. <\/p>\n<p>Michal Koudelka, the head of the Czech counterintelligence agency BIS, said the five suspects shared a fascination with violence and hatred against Jews, LGBTQ+ people and others.<\/p>\n<p>They were approached online by Islamic State members and became radicalised, Koudelka said.<\/p>\n<p>\"We consider online radicalisation of the youth a very dangerous trend,\" Koudelka said, adding that the suspects had not been in touch with the local Muslim community.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1750850361,"updatedAt":1750865956,"publishedAt":1750865522,"firstPublishedAt":1750865522,"lastPublishedAt":1750865522,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/34\/31\/73\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9e40cc1d-79f9-5f3d-8556-ba6243708ca4-9343173.jpg","altText":"Islamic State militants parade in a commandeered Iraqi security forces armoured vehicle in the northern city of Mosul, 23 June, 2014","caption":"Islamic State militants parade in a commandeered Iraqi security forces armoured vehicle in the northern city of Mosul, 23 June, 2014","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1125},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/34\/31\/73\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0b7c44ad-d43f-583c-b2d9-23b006173af7-9343173.jpg","altText":"A man accused of being an IS fighter in a prison in northeastern Syria, 31 January, 2025","caption":"A man accused of being an IS fighter in a prison in northeastern Syria, 31 January, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":11808,"slug":"islamic-state-jihadist-group","urlSafeValue":"islamic-state-jihadist-group","title":"Islamic State Jihadist Group","titleRaw":"Islamic State Jihadist Group"},{"id":274,"slug":"terrorism","urlSafeValue":"terrorism","title":"Terrorism","titleRaw":"Terrorism"},{"id":12928,"slug":"radicalism","urlSafeValue":"radicalism","title":"radicalism","titleRaw":"radicalism"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2817034}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/europe-news\/europe-news"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"my-europe","verticals":[{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"},"themes":[{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/my-europe\/europe-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":56,"urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":{"id":2062,"urlSafeValue":"prague","title":"Prague"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84121001"],"slugs":["news"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/my-europe\/2025\/06\/25\/czech-police-detain-five-teens-over-online-radicalisation-by-so-called-islamic-state-group","lastModified":1750865522},{"id":2807807,"cid":9322231,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"CZECH NEW JUSTICE MIN AMID BITCOIN SCANDAL","daletPyramidId":1774287,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Czech Republic appoints new justice minister after bitcoin donation scandal","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Czech Republic appoints new justice minister after bitcoin scandal","titleListing2":"Czech Republic appoints new justice minister amid bitcoin donation scandal","leadin":"The country's former justice minister, Pavel Bla\u017eek, resigned last month after his ministry accepted a donation of bitcoin and sold them for \u20ac40 million.","summary":"The country's former justice minister, Pavel Bla\u017eek, resigned last month after his ministry accepted a donation of bitcoin and sold them for \u20ac40 million.","keySentence":"","url":"czech-republic-appoints-new-justice-minister-after-bitcoin-donation-scandal","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/06\/10\/czech-republic-appoints-new-justice-minister-after-bitcoin-donation-scandal","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The Czech Republic swore in a new justice minister on Tuesday following the resignation of the previous minister amid a bitcoin-related government scandal.\n\nCzech President Petr Pavel appointed Eva Decroix to the role after her predecessor, Pavel Bla\u017eek, resigned on 30 May. \n\nBla\u017eek had been at the centre of a political crisis because his ministry had accepted a donation of bitcoin from a man convicted of running an online drug market and other crimes, before selling them for about \u20ac40 million earlier this year.\n\nBla\u017eek said he was not aware of any wrongdoing, but that he did not want the four-party coalition government led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala to be hurt by the scandal. \n\nFiala said he appreciated his resignation and that he believed Bla\u017eek had acted in good faith.\n\nThe former justice minister was a close ally of Fiala and a key player in the prime minister's conservative Civic Democratic Party. Decroix is from the same party.\n\nDecroix said she will order an independent investigation into the ministry's activities in the case. Fiala had previously called for a probe, including by Czech secret services. \n\nThe scandal has been investigated by the national police's organised crime unit. \n\nPavel said the \"public trust in the institutions and the state is at stake\" over the scandal.\n\nThe opposition has accused Bla\u017eek of possible money laundering, because the origin of the donated bitcoins is unclear. \n\nOpposition parties are demanding the resignation of the entire government and planning to call a parliamentary no-confidence vote, which could take place later this month. \n\nThe government holds 104 of the 200 seats in the lower house, meaning it would be likely to survive such a vote. \n\nParliamentary elections are set to take place in the Czech Republic in early October. The main opposition ANO (YES) party led by former populist Prime Minister Andrej Babi\u0161 is predicted to win the vote, according to latest opinion polls.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The Czech Republic swore in a new justice minister on Tuesday following the resignation of the previous minister amid a bitcoin-related government scandal.<\/p>\n<p>Czech President Petr Pavel appointed Eva Decroix to the role after her predecessor, Pavel Bla\u017eek, resigned on 30 May. <\/p>\n<p>Bla\u017eek had been at the centre of a political crisis because his ministry had accepted a donation of bitcoin from a man convicted of running an online drug market and other crimes, before selling them for about \u20ac40 million earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p>Bla\u017eek said he was not aware of any wrongdoing, but that he did not want the four-party coalition government led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala to be hurt by the scandal. <\/p>\n<p>Fiala said he appreciated his resignation and that he believed Bla\u017eek had acted in good faith.<\/p>\n<p>The former justice minister was a close ally of Fiala and a key player in the prime minister's conservative Civic Democratic Party. Decroix is from the same party.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//32//22//31//808x539_cmsv2_81403fdd-0907-5f10-857d-65039185670c-9322231.jpg/" alt=\"A bitcoin token is placed on a mirror for a photograph in Prague, 11 May, 2025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/32\/22\/31\/384x256_cmsv2_81403fdd-0907-5f10-857d-65039185670c-9322231.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/32\/22\/31\/640x427_cmsv2_81403fdd-0907-5f10-857d-65039185670c-9322231.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/32\/22\/31\/750x500_cmsv2_81403fdd-0907-5f10-857d-65039185670c-9322231.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/32\/22\/31\/828x552_cmsv2_81403fdd-0907-5f10-857d-65039185670c-9322231.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/32\/22\/31\/1080x720_cmsv2_81403fdd-0907-5f10-857d-65039185670c-9322231.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/32\/22\/31\/1200x800_cmsv2_81403fdd-0907-5f10-857d-65039185670c-9322231.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/32\/22\/31\/1920x1280_cmsv2_81403fdd-0907-5f10-857d-65039185670c-9322231.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A bitcoin token is placed on a mirror for a photograph in Prague, 11 May, 2025<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Decroix said she will order an independent investigation into the ministry's activities in the case. Fiala had previously called for a probe, including by Czech secret services. <\/p>\n<p>The scandal has been investigated by the national police's organised crime unit. <\/p>\n<p>Pavel said the \"public trust in the institutions and the state is at stake\" over the scandal.<\/p>\n<p>The opposition has accused Bla\u017eek of possible money laundering, because the origin of the donated bitcoins is unclear. <\/p>\n<p>Opposition parties are demanding the resignation of the entire government and planning to call a parliamentary no-confidence vote, which could take place later this month. <\/p>\n<p>The government holds 104 of the 200 seats in the lower house, meaning it would be likely to survive such a vote. <\/p>\n<p>Parliamentary elections are set to take place in the Czech Republic in early October. The main opposition ANO (YES) party led by former populist Prime Minister Andrej Babi\u0161 is predicted to win the vote, according to latest opinion polls.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1749552366,"updatedAt":1749987312,"publishedAt":1749555219,"firstPublishedAt":1749555219,"lastPublishedAt":1749987312,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/32\/22\/31\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_321947ab-6108-5a6e-b285-e39ea592cbbe-9322231.jpg","altText":"Czech Republic's President Petr Pavel, right, appoints Eva Decroix, left, as new Justice Minister at the Prague Castle in Prague, June 10, 2025","caption":"Czech Republic's President Petr Pavel, right, appoints Eva Decroix, left, as new Justice Minister at the Prague Castle in Prague, June 10, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Petr David Josek\/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":575},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/32\/22\/31\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_81403fdd-0907-5f10-857d-65039185670c-9322231.jpg","altText":null,"caption":null,"captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":null,"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3238,"urlSafeValue":"guilbert","title":"Kieran Guilbert","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":12679,"slug":"bitcoin","urlSafeValue":"bitcoin","title":"Bitcoin","titleRaw":"Bitcoin"},{"id":67,"slug":"czech-republic","urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","titleRaw":"Czech Republic"},{"id":20030,"slug":"justice-ministry","urlSafeValue":"justice-ministry","title":"Justice Ministry","titleRaw":"Justice Ministry"},{"id":10653,"slug":"czech-politics","urlSafeValue":"czech-politics","title":"Czech politics","titleRaw":"Czech politics"},{"id":25784,"slug":"confidence-vote","urlSafeValue":"confidence-vote","title":"confidence vote","titleRaw":"confidence vote"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2799842},{"id":2789440},{"id":2784130}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},{"id":2,"slug":"my-europe","urlSafeValue":"my-europe","title":"Europe"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"},{"id":"europe-news","urlSafeValue":"europe-news","title":"Europe News","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":104,"urlSafeValue":"europe","title":"Europe"},"country":{"id":67,"urlSafeValue":"czech-republic","title":"Czech Republic","url":"\/news\/europe\/czech-republic"},"town":{"id":2062,"urlSafeValue":"prague","title":"Prague"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":["84111001","84112005","84211001","84212001"],"slugs":["law_gov_t_and_politics_legal_politics","law_government_and_politics","society","society_general"]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/06\/10\/czech-republic-appoints-new-justice-minister-after-bitcoin-donation-scandal","lastModified":1749987312}]">
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