What Czechia is writing about: Babiš backs down to Pavel, but the conflict of interest remains unresolved. The justice minister clashed with the top prosecutor

On Monday, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš publicly insisted that he had "definitively given up" the conflict of interest around Agrofert, but according to Info.cz, polls suggest he should rather back down in the dispute with the Castle, and Brussels has sent him specific options for a solution that, according to Deník N, are "all only barely acceptable" to him. Justice Minister Jeroným Tejc sent Supreme Public Prosecutor Lenka Bradáčová a letter about the government's priorities in criminal policy; prosecutors told him they will abide only by the laws in force, and meanwhile, on her extraordinary appeal, the Supreme Court ordered the reopening of the case of the so-called Nazi mugs. The European Parliament approved an adjustment to the ETS2 emissions trading system with a price cap for transport and buildings, but the Czech government refuses to take on the new allowances, even though, according to Deník N, it wants the money from them — which, by some estimates, could cost the country tens of billions of crowns.

Babiš backs down to Pavel, but the conflict of interest remains unresolved

According to Info.cz, Babiš's attacks on Pavel are "bouncing off" without much effect, and the latest polls suggest the prime minister should rather back down in the dispute with the Castle. Info.cz ↗ A sociologist on the Seznam Zprávy podcast argues that Babiš is "tired of the many conflicts" and is therefore heading more toward a truce with the president than further escalation. Seznam Zprávy ↗ In a commentary, Respekt asks whether this is a genuine rapprochement between the government and the Castle, or merely "the calm before the storm." Respekt ↗ Deník N has also found that Brussels sent Babiš specific options for resolving the conflict of interest around the RSVP Trust trust fund, though according to the paper the prime minister reportedly considers all of them hard to accept. Deník N ↗

Šumava: the army heads out for a survey on Wednesday, soldiers left puzzled

The contamination near Zhůří in the Klatovy region was reported a week ago by Environment Minister Igor Červený and MP Filip Turek (both Motoristé) — they spoke of a leak of hazardous substances within the national park, and the media have come to refer to the affair as "Turek's mustard gas." Respekt ↗ iHNed.cz ↗

Chief of staff Hlaváč announced that the army will launch a survey of the contaminated area at Šumava on Wednesday, novinky.cz Novinky ↗ and Seznam Zprávy reported. Seznam Zprávy ↗ Forum24 added that the army will announce further steps only after evaluating the survey. Forum 24 ↗ Aktuálně.cz offered a more critical view — according to the outlet, soldiers are unclear why the remediation was hastily decided directly by Prime Minister Babiš, and why developer Zůna is present as an observer, even though the army must return to Šumava regardless of the original doubts. Aktuálně.cz ↗

Justice minister versus the top prosecutor

In a column by Vondráček, ČT24 wrote that the government wants prosecutors to know its priorities — this after Justice Minister Jeroným Tejc sent Supreme Public Prosecutor Lenka Bradáčová a letter outlining the government's priorities in criminal policy. ČT24 ↗ Deník N recalled that Tejc wants fewer prosecutions over controversial statements, but prosecutors told him they must follow the law in force, not political directives. Deník N ↗ iDNES.cz quoted Tejc himself, according to whom the government "can determine what is important," but he does not want to dictate to prosecutors. iDNES.cz ↗ According to iHNed.cz, Bradáčová told him that prosecutors will act according to the principles of criminal procedure regardless of the government's directive. iHNed.cz ↗ The day before, the Supreme Court, acting on her extraordinary appeal, also ordered the reopening of the case of the so-called Nazi mugs and T-shirts, iDNES.cz reported. iDNES.cz ↗

State money

The European Parliament approved an adjustment to the ETS2 emissions trading system and capped allowance prices for transport and buildings, Forum24 wrote. Forum 24 ↗ Aktuálně.cz noted that the change's impact on prices is nonetheless disputed. Aktuálně.cz ↗ Deník N, meanwhile, found that the Czech government refuses to take on the new allowances but still wants the money from them — meaning the country could, by some estimates, lose tens of billions of crowns. Deník N ↗ Within the coalition, there were also contradictions on the question of gas: Babiš declared that "there will be a problem with gas," but Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry Karel Havlíček corrected his words. Aktuálně.cz ↗ iROZHLAS recalled experts' estimates that gas prices should fall next spring, while people will pay substantially more for now. iROZHLAS ↗ In a commentary, Forum24 wrote that it is mainly businessman Tykač and other oligarchs who stand to profit from the plans around ČEZ, while the debts remain with the state — according to the paper, Babiš's "fairy tale about ČEZ" is thus slowly dissolving. Forum 24 ↗ On top of that, Deník N picked out four government claims about the state budget that it says deserve an explanation. Deník N ↗

Under the radar

The Motoristé proposal to reintroduce three unpaid days of sick leave ultimately fell through — according to novinky.cz, this is a victory for SPD, which had opposed the proposal together with the trade unions. Novinky ↗ Minister Šťastný confirmed to ČT24 that the coalition did not agree on reinstating the waiting period. ČT24 ↗ Former Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský confirmed, according to Forum24, that he is joining ODS, while stressing that he remains a liberal. Forum 24 ↗ In Prague 10, the municipal campaign is being accompanied by vandalism — according to novinky.cz, election cubes and posters are being destroyed and stolen. Novinky ↗ iHNed.cz also described how the ANO movement launched a professional counter-campaign featuring images of a "burning Prague" and caricatures of ODS candidates. iHNed.cz ↗

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