This article is part of our special report Poland’s energy transition.
Tensions have mounted at the Polish, Czech and German border over a coal mine in Poland that Prague says is contaminating its water supplies and has been operating illegally for over a year.
In a rare move for an EU country, the Czech Republic took Poland before the European Court of Justice in February this year for extending a mining concession for an open-pit coal mine near Turów, a Polish village just over the border.
The Czech Republic said Warsaw had violated the EU’s Environmental Impact Assessment Directive which requires transboundary consultation, and the principle of cooperation enshrined in the EU Treaty.
Czech morning news in brief: top headlines for March 31, 2021
Record March temps in the Czech Republic yesterday, Prague marathon postponed, Pirates/STAN take the lead in the polls, and more.
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Coalition of Pirates/STAN leading in polls
PM Andrej Babiš s ANO movement has lost its leading position in the polls to the coalition of the Pirates and the Mayors and Independents (STAN) which would win the elections with 27.5 percent of the vote, a March poll by the Median polling institute shows. ANO gained 24.5 percent, which is 2 percentage points less than in the previous poll. On the contrary, the Pirates/STAN coalition received 2.5 percentage points more than in the poll released one month ago. A poll conducted by the Kantar CZ agency indicated a Pirates/STAN victory in late January and early February, as well. The handling of the Covid pandemic has considerably begun to influence the position of the coalition parties, analysts said. The Pirates/STAN coalition has the highest
President Miloš Zeman dismissed Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček from office on Monday. His dismissal came at the request of Social Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister Jan Hamáček, who will temporarily take over the portfolio until a successor is found.
Tomás Petříček unsuccessfully challenged Jan Hamáček for the top party post at the Social Democratic Party’s election conference at the weekend. Mr. Petříček said that he considers his dismissal to be a political decision.
Jan Hamáček has offered the post to Petříček’s predecessor Lubomír Zaorálek, who is currently serving as culture minister. The top post at the culture ministry is to be filled by Social Democrat MP Jan Birke, who has confirmed receiving the offer. Mr. Zaorálek is considering the offer.
Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček has confirmed his pending dismissal from office. Mr. Petříček said at a press briefing on Monday that his party boss, Social Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister Jan Hamáček had asked Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to effect a change of guard at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Petříček said that he considered this to be a political decision.
Tomás Petříček unsuccessfully challenged Jan Hamáček for the top party post at the Social Democratic Party’s election conference at the weekend.
According to media speculation he is to be replaced by his predecessor in office, Lubomír Zaorálek, who is currently serving as culture minister. The top post at the culture ministry is to be filled by Social Democrat Deputy Jan Birke, who has confirmed receiving the offer.
Turkey offers its support to Kyiv as Western leaders watch the Ukrainian conflict closely. The Czech Foreign Minister Tomáš Petříček has been dismissed, and the Bulgarian kingmaker announces his positive COVID-19 status.