Central Europe / News
EPH to invest €10.2bn into renewables in Germany
The plans mark a major shift in EPH's strategy, which had been to bet that the green transition would take longer than expected.
Poland’s central bank halts rate rises, bets that inflation starts easing soon
The National Bank of Poland left its reference interest rate unchanged at 6.75%, despite inflation accelerating to 17.2% y/y in September.
Leading Czech coalition parties endorse three presidential candidates
Spolu politicians have admitted previously that endorsing just one candidate could be seen as a curse, for that person could become a target for voter anger over the soaring cost of living.
Slovak finance minister survives vote of no-confidence
Former coalition partner and SaS leader Richard Sulik says he is now ready to discuss early elections.
Estonia’s “rat king” to be exhibited at University of Tartu Natural History Museum
A "rat king" is a collection of rats whose tails are intertwined and bound together, either with hair or sticky substances or by getting tied together.
Hungary agrees on deferred payments with Gazprom for winter gas deliveries
Agreement helps ease pressure on Hungary’s widening current account deficit and steady the sinking forint.
Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins set to form second government
The ethnic Russian Harmony Party – winner of the 2010, 2014 and 2018 parliamentary elections – has crashed out of parliament because of its ambivalent position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Low Senate election turnout helps Czech ruling coalition fight off populist challenge
Despite registering some success in the first round the previous weekend, populists and anti-establishment parties failed in the run-offs for the upper house.
Hungary’s forint slides to new low after central bank ends tightening cycle
The Hungarian currency has become the third worst-performing EM currency in 2022 after the Argentine peso and the Turkish lira.
Slovak ministers criticise Czech border controls
Czechia and Austria introduce checks on borders with Slovakia to stop increasing numbers of migrants crossing towards Germany.
Report says Russian gas supplies to Europe via TurkStream now endangered
Gazprom unit that operates pipeline said to be withdrawing all technical support.
Prague far-right rally demands peace and resumed imports of Russian gas
Turnout at anti-government demonstration well down on first rally.
Slovenian government to hike spending over next two years
Higher spending and bigger deficits planned in 2023 and 2014 budgets as Ljubljana tries to mitigate the economic fallout from the war in Ukraine.
Poland worried about Baltic Pipe security after Nord Stream explosions
Warsaw fears sabotage of Nord Stream on same day Baltic Pipe opened was no coincidence.
Czech-based EPH expands on the Dutch energy market
Largest Czech energy company acquires 100% of gas-fired power plant Sloe in Zeeland.
Analysts question Hungarian central bank's signal that it is ending tightening cycle
MNB raises base rate by 125bp to 13%, above the 75-100bp forecast, but calls time on further rate rises.
Czech elections show steady rise of far right and populists
Populist ANO party of former premier Andrej Babis comes first in eight of 13 regional capitals but was only second in the two largest, Prague and Brno.
Hungary to launch national consultation on EU sanctions against Russia
Viktor Orban’s latest move is another way of shifting the blame for economic woes following a procyclical and expansive fiscal policy in recent years.
Czech municipal election will test government popularity amid cost of living crisis
A major battle is seen in Prague where the Pirate-led coalition of Mayor Zdenek Hrib could be brought down by a grand coalition of Babis' ANO, together with ODS, the prime minister's party.
Slovakia’s minority cabinet manages to open parliamentary session with help of opposition
Smer leader Robert Fico is trying to exploit the cabinet infighting and the energy crisis to engineer a return to power.
