What Czechia is writing about: Babiš and Pavel finally met at the Castle, Macinka was absent. Brussels revealed family ties in Agrofert's trust fund

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš finally met with President Petr Pavel at the Castle on Monday, and they discussed foreign trips, including Pavel's planned trip to the UN General Assembly and Babiš's possible visit to China next year; Foreign Minister and leader of the Motorists Petr Macinka did not attend the joint meeting. Meanwhile, the European Commission scrutinized the family ties of Babiš's trust fund RSVP Trust, and the prime minister continues to deny any conflict of interest. At home, a dispute flared up over the return of the waiting period between the Motorists and the trade unions, spring frosts cost fruit growers more than 1.3 billion crowns, and two cases concerning public procurement are heading to court.

Babiš and Pavel reached an agreement at the Castle, Macinka absent

After months of tension between the Castle and the government, Babiš finally met with President Pavel; iROZHLAS described the meeting as "very concrete talks" about foreign trips and the global situation, and the two are set to meet again at a session of the security council. iROZHLAS ↗ Seznam Zprávy framed the event as a turnaround by the prime minister and quoted his words that it is time for Macinka to meet with the president as well. Seznam Zprávy ↗ Aktuálně.cz noted that this brings an end to the institutional "trench warfare," even though Foreign Minister Petr Macinka ultimately did not attend Monday's meeting at the Castle. Aktuálně.cz ↗ According to Forum24, this was because Macinka is due to have a separate meeting with the president outside this occasion. Forum 24 ↗ Novinky added that the talks also covered Pavel's planned trip to the UN General Assembly. Novinky ↗ Deník noted that they also discussed other foreign trips in general. Deník ↗ According to Seznam Zprávy, Babiš also confirmed that he is considering a trip to China next year. Seznam Zprávy ↗ According to E15, this trip should be "mainly about business." E15 ↗ The dispute between the Castle and the government had dragged on for half a year precisely over the question of who would lead the Czech delegation to next year's NATO summit in Tirana, Albania — Monday's meeting thus signals that the two sides have finally also agreed on a broader division of foreign trips.

Brussels takes issue with family ties in Agrofert's trust fund

Deník N published details from a letter by a European Commissioner pointing to the ties between Babiš's trust fund RSVP Trust and his family — the Commission had already indicated earlier that the fund does not resolve the conflict of interest, since the beneficiaries are the prime minister's children. Deník N ↗ Babiš told Aktuálně.cz once again that he "definitively gave up" Agrofert, and continues to deny a conflict of interest. Aktuálně.cz ↗

Dispute over the waiting period: trade unions and SPD against the Motorists

According to Seznam Zprávy, the Motorists are proposing that the first three days of sick leave remain without wage compensation, i.e., a return of the waiting period that Babiš's government abolished years ago — both the trade unions and the opposition SPD reject the proposal. Seznam Zprávy ↗ In a discussion presented by iROZHLAS, the participants contradict each other — one argues that lower benefits motivate people to look for work, while the other objects that changing the rules after just half a year "doesn't make sense." iROZHLAS ↗

Justice: two public procurement cases head to court

In the case involving Prague's Motol hospital, police brought new charges against the construction company Geosan Group, which, according to iDNES.cz, is defending itself. iDNES.cz ↗ iHNed.cz noted that this is another charge against the company in this case. iHNed.cz ↗ In Pardubice, meanwhile, the prosecutor sent four people and a company to trial over nearly 300 allegedly rigged contracts at the regional magistrate's office, iROZHLAS reported. iROZHLAS ↗ ČT24 added that a former head of a department at the magistrate's office is also facing charges. ČT24 ↗ Both cases thus served as a reminder, on the same day, that investigations into public procurement — in hospitals as well as regional offices — remain among the issues Czech courts deal with regardless of who is currently in power.

State finances

According to Novinky, spring frosts caused fruit growers a second poor harvest in a short period, with damages exceeding 1.3 billion crowns. Novinky ↗ iDNES.cz specified that apples were hit the hardest. iDNES.cz ↗ On top of that comes expensive energy — according to iDNES.cz, there is enough gas, but it will be expensive and will also drive up the price of electricity. iDNES.cz ↗ iROZHLAS noted that energy dependence is costing the Czech Republic dearly, since, according to an expert, gas in America is up to ten times cheaper. iROZHLAS ↗ A Lidovky commentary warns that postponing the reduction of the budget deficit amid this price shock is a risk. Lidovky.cz ↗ Adding to the pressure on state finances is a report by Novinky that a Prague-based low-cost airline has applied for protection from creditors, although it wants to keep flying. Novinky ↗

Under the radar

According to Seznam Zprávy, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić will resign in two weeks in order to run for the post of prime minister. Seznam Zprávy ↗ Aktuálně.cz added that he wants to run for prime minister as early as the October elections. Aktuálně.cz ↗ iROZHLAS, meanwhile, recalled the proposal to reintroduce the so-called lobbying trail, which, according to MP Stojanová, would give citizens the right to know who is influencing the shape of laws. iROZHLAS ↗ In the Šumava region, it was meanwhile confirmed that the contaminated soil will ultimately be removed by the army — according to iHNed.cz, Prime Minister Babiš declared that he is looking forward to Mr. Zůna's operation. iHNed.cz ↗ The government also approved several domestic measures alongside this. According to Novinky, Prime Minister Babiš assured that subsidies for private and church schools will not be cut across the board. Novinky ↗ Seznam Zprávy reported that, as part of the "fight against drugs," the government wants to ban the sale of cannabis sticks. Seznam Zprávy ↗ Deník wrote that the new police power to close shops selling dangerous goods is accompanied by misgivings. Deník ↗ A Deník N commentary also addressed Babiš's plan for a birth bonus — according to it, the prime minister, together with entrepreneur Ivana Tykač, is "way off the mark" on this issue. Deník N ↗

What hotinfo is watching

When and where the announced separate meeting between Petr Macinka and President Pavel outside the Castle will take place — it is meant to be a gesture that will definitively close the six-month dispute between the institutions.

Whether Babiš will actually confirm the trip to China next year and with what agenda, or whether, as in the past, it will remain just talk.

How the dispute over the waiting period between the Motorists on one side and the trade unions together with SPD on the other will turn out — that is, whether the government will ultimately push through the proposal to abolish compensation for the first three days of sick leave.

What the next step will be in the cases involving the Motol hospital and the Pardubice magistrate's office, i.e., when the first court dates will be set for the accused companies and individuals.

Whether Aleksandar Vučić will actually resign within two weeks and how he fares in his effort to become prime minister after the October elections.

Whether the government can justify that the cannabis sticks and the new police power to close shops are not merely symbolic gestures ahead of the Senate and municipal elections on October 17.