Czech news in brief for October 31: Friday’s top afternoon headlines

The emerging Czech government of ANO, SPD, and the Motorists outlined strategic priorities for their government program this afternoon. Pledges include cheaper energy, energy security, free healthcare, affordable housing, fair pensions, and national defense. The coalition will reject new ETS2 emission allowances and develop nuclear energy. The parties also plan to cap the retirement age at 65 and simplify building procedures to accelerate housing projects.

The Supreme Administrative Court (NSS) Friday ruled that SPD’s election campaign portrayal of migrants resembled propaganda from Nazi and Communist eras. According to the NSS, it was “highly in bad taste and dangerous for the political campaign to stir up xenophobia and hatred towards any group in society”. Police are already prosecuting the movement and its chairman, Tomio Okamura, for incitement to hatred.

Cancer kills 27,000 people and costs nearly 95 billion crowns annually in Czechia, but early screening could prevent one-third of deaths, the Health Ministry said. Around 800,000 people live with cancer. Early detection of breast cancer cures nearly 100 percent of women, while late-stage diagnosis reduces survival to 30 percent. Minister Vlastimil Valek encouraged participation in preventive screenings.

Police charged 13 people, including Czechs, for smuggling at least 63 migrants from Southeast Asia through Czechia to Germany. Suspects were detained in Ústí nad Labem, Central Bohemia and Prague. Special crime operations spokesman Jaroslav Ibehej said the network collected hundreds of euros per person. Two main organisers were remanded in custody, facing two to eight years in prison if convicted.

Eurozone consumer price inflation fell to 2.1 percent year-on-year in October from 2.2 percent in September, bringing some relief for Czech households and businesses. Estonia recorded the highest rate at 4.5 percent, Cyprus the lowest at 0.3 percent. Services inflation rose to 3.4 percent, while food, alcohol, and tobacco eased to 2.5 percent. Energy prices dropped 1 percent. Out of non-euro-using countries, Czechia has among the lowest rates of inflation.