Trikolóra MP Refuses to Back the Budget — A Crack Opens in the Czech Coalition

Miroslav Ševčík, an MP for the Trikolóra party in the Czech Parliament, has said he will not vote for the draft state budget for next year, which the government approved with a deficit of CZK 386 billion. This was reported to the outlet by Trikolóra chairwoman Zuzana Majerová.

According to her, Ševčík is first and foremost a right-wing economist — the former dean of the Faculty of National Economy at the Prague University of Economics and Business, where nearly every economist who has ever sat in parliament once studied. "For him, economics comes above everything else, and that's where his priorities lie," Majerová explained.

An Economist Versus a Politician

What bothers Ševčík most is the sheer size of the deficit. By his own calculations, savings could be pushed as high as CZK 29–34 billion. Majerová herself considers a cut of CZK 20 billion more realistic politically — for example, by trimming the budgets of the Ministry of Defence (CZK 191 billion for next year) and the Ministry of Education (CZK 292.1 billion).

She intends to raise the issue with coalition partners only after the Senate and municipal elections. "I'd like to avoid amendments once the bill reaches its reading in the Chamber of Deputies — it's better to agree on things in advance," she added. Majerová stressed that she will not allow disagreements over the budget to jeopardise the government's unity, since she promised voters she would prevent the parties of the previous coalition from returning to power.

Motoristé Will Vote Unanimously

The governing coalition of ANO, SPD and Motoristé sobě controls 108 votes in the lower house of parliament. If everyone except Ševčík votes in favour, the budget should pass without difficulty — only 101 votes are needed for approval with the chamber at full strength.

The outlet sought comment from SPD chairman Tomio Okamura, SPD parliamentary group leader Radim Fiala, and Svobodní leader Libor Vondráček, but received no response.

All thirteen Motoristé sobě MPs plan to support the budget, according to the party's parliamentary group chairman and Minister of Sport, Boris Šťastný. "All of our MPs will unequivocally vote for the budget," he said, recalling that ahead of the coalition's final budget meeting last week there was a lengthy discussion that ended in agreement to reduce the deficit.

Motoristé sobě were satisfied that they managed to secure a CZK 3 billion cut in the nominal budget deficit, with a further CZK 20 billion expected to be saved once the relevant legislative changes are adopted. The party also hopes to save another CZK 60 billion in the 2028 budget.

"I firmly insist on unity. Every single MP in our coalition signed the coalition agreement, and I expect our colleagues from the other coalition parties to fully honour the agreements reached on the budget, rather than complicate its passage with amendments that were never agreed in advance," Šťastný concluded.

Source: novinky.cz