Ketrin Jochecová
@ketrinjochecova.bsky.social
Breaking news reporter at @politico.eu
Tips @ [email protected]
Tips @ [email protected]
I traveled to my hometown of Ostrava, once known as the steel heart of the Czech Republic to understand why populist billionaire Andrej Babiš is the most popular politician in the region as we approach the parliamentary elections this weekend.
Read the story here: www.politico.eu/article/czec...
Read the story here: www.politico.eu/article/czec...
How the Czech rust belt echoes America’s populist shift
Agriculture tycoon Andrej Babiš rides voter discontent back toward power in Prague.
www.politico.eu
October 2, 2025 at 7:55 AM
I traveled to my hometown of Ostrava, once known as the steel heart of the Czech Republic to understand why populist billionaire Andrej Babiš is the most popular politician in the region as we approach the parliamentary elections this weekend.
Read the story here: www.politico.eu/article/czec...
Read the story here: www.politico.eu/article/czec...
Populist right-winger Andrej Babiš is the hot favorite to win the Czech general election next month, but don't bet on him becoming PM just yet.
President Petr Pavel has a wild-card constitutional option of not appointing Babiš even if je wins the vote.
www.politico.eu/article/czec...
President Petr Pavel has a wild-card constitutional option of not appointing Babiš even if je wins the vote.
www.politico.eu/article/czec...
Babiš is on track to return as Czech prime minister. The president can say ‘no.’
Right-wing populist Babiš is tipped to win October’s election, but the president is weighing barring him over his business interests and ambivalence toward NATO.
www.politico.eu
September 19, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Populist right-winger Andrej Babiš is the hot favorite to win the Czech general election next month, but don't bet on him becoming PM just yet.
President Petr Pavel has a wild-card constitutional option of not appointing Babiš even if je wins the vote.
www.politico.eu/article/czec...
President Petr Pavel has a wild-card constitutional option of not appointing Babiš even if je wins the vote.
www.politico.eu/article/czec...
Slovak officials face allegations of having used European funds to build fake guesthouses that only privileged insiders can stay in.
At the center of it all? The Agricultural Payment Agency, an official body former official called "a rotten bank for oligarchs".
www.politico.eu/article/farm...
At the center of it all? The Agricultural Payment Agency, an official body former official called "a rotten bank for oligarchs".
www.politico.eu/article/farm...
Not another farm fraud? Slovaks face heat over EU funds for fake guesthouses.
Critics say a Slovak body distributing EU farm aid is a “bank for oligarchs.”
www.politico.eu
September 12, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Slovak officials face allegations of having used European funds to build fake guesthouses that only privileged insiders can stay in.
At the center of it all? The Agricultural Payment Agency, an official body former official called "a rotten bank for oligarchs".
www.politico.eu/article/farm...
At the center of it all? The Agricultural Payment Agency, an official body former official called "a rotten bank for oligarchs".
www.politico.eu/article/farm...
A scandal involving one of Babiš' lawmakers who allegedly tried to hire a hitman to kill her ex-husband's new girlfriend's dog rocks the Czech political scene.
But Babiš, the Houdini of Czech politics, turned it into PR.
www.politico.eu/article/czec...
But Babiš, the Houdini of Czech politics, turned it into PR.
www.politico.eu/article/czec...
Plot to hire dog-slaying hitman rocks Czech election race
In one of Europe’s most dog-loving countries, a lawmaker with Andrej Babiš’ party allegedly tried to have a pup killed.
www.politico.eu
August 20, 2025 at 8:35 AM
A scandal involving one of Babiš' lawmakers who allegedly tried to hire a hitman to kill her ex-husband's new girlfriend's dog rocks the Czech political scene.
But Babiš, the Houdini of Czech politics, turned it into PR.
www.politico.eu/article/czec...
But Babiš, the Houdini of Czech politics, turned it into PR.
www.politico.eu/article/czec...
Reposted by Ketrin Jochecová
The appointment of just four women out of 15 ministers in Belgium’s new Cabinet has sparked anger on social media and among politicians.
It also presented a stark contrast with the government of previous Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, which achieved gender parity among its ministers.
It also presented a stark contrast with the government of previous Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, which achieved gender parity among its ministers.
Belgium’s new Cabinet is a boys’ club
Lack of diversity could have a negative impact on issues like abortion legislation, experts warn.
ow.ly
February 28, 2025 at 8:32 AM
The appointment of just four women out of 15 ministers in Belgium’s new Cabinet has sparked anger on social media and among politicians.
It also presented a stark contrast with the government of previous Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, which achieved gender parity among its ministers.
It also presented a stark contrast with the government of previous Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, which achieved gender parity among its ministers.
Political relations between cultural cousins Czechia and Slovakia have rarely been worse — not even in 1993, when Czechoslovakia bloodlessly divorced into two independent republics.
Read my latest below
Read my latest below
As Slovak PM Robert Fico steers Bratislava away from the West and into Moscow’s orbit, a bitter animus is estranging Czechia and Slovakia. 👉 www.politico.eu/article/czec...
February 27, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Political relations between cultural cousins Czechia and Slovakia have rarely been worse — not even in 1993, when Czechoslovakia bloodlessly divorced into two independent republics.
Read my latest below
Read my latest below
Reposted by Ketrin Jochecová
The Slovak government’s love for Russia knows no bounds.
A group of six MPs led by Andrej Danko, leader of the hard-right Slovak National Party (SNS), went to Moscow this week in a sign of growing ties between Bratislava and the Kremlin.
A group of six MPs led by Andrej Danko, leader of the hard-right Slovak National Party (SNS), went to Moscow this week in a sign of growing ties between Bratislava and the Kremlin.
Who loved Moscow more: Tucker Carlson or Slovakia’s far-right chief?
See if you can get 100 percent in our quiz.
trib.al
January 18, 2025 at 10:48 AM
The Slovak government’s love for Russia knows no bounds.
A group of six MPs led by Andrej Danko, leader of the hard-right Slovak National Party (SNS), went to Moscow this week in a sign of growing ties between Bratislava and the Kremlin.
A group of six MPs led by Andrej Danko, leader of the hard-right Slovak National Party (SNS), went to Moscow this week in a sign of growing ties between Bratislava and the Kremlin.
Reposted by Ketrin Jochecová
Competition to rule the wider Arctic and its vast mineral resources and key waterways has ramped up, culminating this week in U.S. President-elect Donald Trump floating military action to capture Greenland from Denmark.
Greenland today, Svalbard tomorrow? Arctic shivers at specter of Trump and Putin
The incoming U.S. administration admits that its stunning polar gambit is about warding off Russian ambitions.
www.politico.eu
January 10, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Competition to rule the wider Arctic and its vast mineral resources and key waterways has ramped up, culminating this week in U.S. President-elect Donald Trump floating military action to capture Greenland from Denmark.
Reposted by Ketrin Jochecová
Kyiv’s decision not to renew a gas deal with the Kremlin hasn’t sparked the catastrophe Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico imagined.
🔗 www.politico.eu/article/robe...
🔗 www.politico.eu/article/robe...
January 3, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Kyiv’s decision not to renew a gas deal with the Kremlin hasn’t sparked the catastrophe Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico imagined.
🔗 www.politico.eu/article/robe...
🔗 www.politico.eu/article/robe...
Reposted by Ketrin Jochecová
Salome Zourabichvili’s term in office ends on Sunday — but Georgia’s pro-Western president says she’s not going anywhere.
Showdown in Georgia as pro-EU president refuses to step down
Salome Zourabichvili says she will continue to do her job, calling the inauguration of a new president “not valid.”
www.politico.eu
December 28, 2024 at 3:33 PM
Salome Zourabichvili’s term in office ends on Sunday — but Georgia’s pro-Western president says she’s not going anywhere.
Reposted by Ketrin Jochecová
Zoran Milanović, a critic of the EU and NATO, is expected to come in first in Sunday’s presidential election.
Croatia set to reelect its ‘Donald Trump’
Zoran Milanović, a critic of the EU and NATO, is expected to come in first in Sunday’s presidential election.
www.politico.eu
December 28, 2024 at 9:41 AM
Zoran Milanović, a critic of the EU and NATO, is expected to come in first in Sunday’s presidential election.
Reposted by Ketrin Jochecová
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is threatening retaliatory measures against Ukraine if Kyiv stops Russian gas transit to Slovakia as of Jan. 1.
Fico threatens to cut electricity supplies to Ukraine
Diplomatic spat between Slovakia and Ukraine continues.
www.politico.eu
December 28, 2024 at 11:17 AM
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico is threatening retaliatory measures against Ukraine if Kyiv stops Russian gas transit to Slovakia as of Jan. 1.
Reposted by Ketrin Jochecová
Estonia launched a naval operation to protect its undersea power cables today, following the suspected sabotage of another cable in the Baltic Sea by a ship belonging to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
As Finland seizes Russian ship, Estonia launches naval patrols
A member of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet is suspected of damaging an undersea cable.
www.politico.eu
December 27, 2024 at 12:33 PM
Estonia launched a naval operation to protect its undersea power cables today, following the suspected sabotage of another cable in the Baltic Sea by a ship belonging to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet.
Reposted by Ketrin Jochecová
Donald Trump expressed his renewed interest in acquiring Greenland — after having initially done so back in 2019.
Even though the vast majority of Greenlanders are EU citizens, the EU’s diplomatic service is not exactly coming out all-guns-blazing against Trump’s suggestion.
Even though the vast majority of Greenlanders are EU citizens, the EU’s diplomatic service is not exactly coming out all-guns-blazing against Trump’s suggestion.
Trump wants Greenland (and its 55,000 EU citizens). EU says ‘no comment’
Greenland says island’s fate must lie with Greenlanders, but EU declines to “comment on comments.”
www.politico.eu
December 26, 2024 at 3:38 PM
Donald Trump expressed his renewed interest in acquiring Greenland — after having initially done so back in 2019.
Even though the vast majority of Greenlanders are EU citizens, the EU’s diplomatic service is not exactly coming out all-guns-blazing against Trump’s suggestion.
Even though the vast majority of Greenlanders are EU citizens, the EU’s diplomatic service is not exactly coming out all-guns-blazing against Trump’s suggestion.
Reposted by Ketrin Jochecová
Finland has opened a criminal investigation into the potential involvement of Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' in the breaking of an undersea power cable between Finland and Estonia on Christmas Day.
Finland probes Russian shadow fleet involvement in new Baltic cable break
Finnish police said there is reason to believe a ship belonging to Moscow’s sanctions-busting shadow fleet caused the damage.
www.politico.eu
December 26, 2024 at 3:57 PM
Finland has opened a criminal investigation into the potential involvement of Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' in the breaking of an undersea power cable between Finland and Estonia on Christmas Day.
Reposted by Ketrin Jochecová
The love affair between Slovakia’s prime minister and president is over.
Slovakia’s leaders have started trading insults, revealing a country ‘falling apart’
In Bratislava, the president and prime minister don’t like each other much. That has repercussions for democracy.
www.politico.eu
December 17, 2024 at 8:26 AM
The love affair between Slovakia’s prime minister and president is over.
Reposted by Ketrin Jochecová
Chad’s government abruptly ended a defense cooperation agreement with former colonial power France, issuing the unexpected announcement just a few hours after a meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries.
Chad breaks off military pact with France; Senegal wants French troops out
The moves come against a backdrop of Russia’s ambitions to expand its foothold on the African continent.
www.politico.eu
November 29, 2024 at 4:34 PM
Chad’s government abruptly ended a defense cooperation agreement with former colonial power France, issuing the unexpected announcement just a few hours after a meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries.
Reposted by Ketrin Jochecová
Georgia’s ruling party has picked former Manchester City footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili as its presidential candidate, the chairman of Georgian Dream Bidzina Ivanishvili announced at a briefing today.
Ex-Man City footballer set to be next Georgian president
Former striker Mikheil Kavelashvili is an outspoken critic of the West.
www.politico.eu
November 27, 2024 at 1:31 PM
Georgia’s ruling party has picked former Manchester City footballer Mikheil Kavelashvili as its presidential candidate, the chairman of Georgian Dream Bidzina Ivanishvili announced at a briefing today.
Reposted by Ketrin Jochecová
Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu is officially a wanted man.
We took a look at which countries in Europe are vowing to arrest him, which ones are saying they will ignore the ICC’s ruling — and those refusing to say.
In short? Netanyahu’s world just got a lot smaller. www.politico.eu/article/benj...
We took a look at which countries in Europe are vowing to arrest him, which ones are saying they will ignore the ICC’s ruling — and those refusing to say.
In short? Netanyahu’s world just got a lot smaller. www.politico.eu/article/benj...
Benjamin Netanyahu arrest warrant: Where can he still go in Europe?
Here are the countries that would handcuff the Israeli prime minister over the Gaza war.
www.politico.eu
November 22, 2024 at 4:42 PM
Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu is officially a wanted man.
We took a look at which countries in Europe are vowing to arrest him, which ones are saying they will ignore the ICC’s ruling — and those refusing to say.
In short? Netanyahu’s world just got a lot smaller. www.politico.eu/article/benj...
We took a look at which countries in Europe are vowing to arrest him, which ones are saying they will ignore the ICC’s ruling — and those refusing to say.
In short? Netanyahu’s world just got a lot smaller. www.politico.eu/article/benj...
Elena Gorolová was forcibly sterilized under government-sponsored eugenics program in communist Czechoslovakia.
Because she is Roma.
She told her story until the Czech government was forced to listen.
With Sarah Wheaton for @politico.eu.
www.politico.eu/article/thes...
Because she is Roma.
She told her story until the Czech government was forced to listen.
With Sarah Wheaton for @politico.eu.
www.politico.eu/article/thes...
These Roma women were sterilized without their consent. Is compensation enough to stop the fight?
Elena Gorolová repeated her story until the Czech government was forced to listen.
www.politico.eu
November 21, 2024 at 11:22 AM
Elena Gorolová was forcibly sterilized under government-sponsored eugenics program in communist Czechoslovakia.
Because she is Roma.
She told her story until the Czech government was forced to listen.
With Sarah Wheaton for @politico.eu.
www.politico.eu/article/thes...
Because she is Roma.
She told her story until the Czech government was forced to listen.
With Sarah Wheaton for @politico.eu.
www.politico.eu/article/thes...