Babiš's government wants to override Pavel's veto of the…

Babiš's government wants to override Pavel's veto of the budget amendment

27.07.2026 09:03 HotInfo

The dispute between Andrej Babiš's government, Finance Minister Alena Schillerová, and President Petr Pavel over the veto of the budget amendment continues. On Wednesday, July 22, Pavel returned to the Chamber of Deputies the law that was meant to loosen the rules of fiscal responsibility, marking his first veto of a bill approved by the current Babiš government. lidovky.cz ↗

The president justified the step by citing concerns about the long-term sustainability of public finances and the weakening of parliamentary oversight. According to available information, the amendment would have, among other things, allowed the government to exceed the approved state budget expenditures by up to ten percent in the event of a deteriorating security situation. Economists point out that the current rules already allow the state to invest using debt, and that the contested law would primarily weaken pressure to consolidate public finances. zpravy.aktualne.cz ↗

Babiš has now stated that the government must override the veto, otherwise, he says, there will be no money for the army or highways. At the same time, he called the requirement to reduce the deficit from 310 to 150 billion crowns within one year unrealistic and claims that the president's veto makes no economic sense. According to him, Pavel does not understand economics and should economize himself. ekonomickydenik.cz ↗

Government politicians continue to criticize the Castle. Taťána Malá admitted that the coalition had anticipated the veto and said it should seek a candidate who can defeat Pavel in the next presidential election. Boris Šťastný described the government's trust in the president as zero. Miroslav Kalousek, on the other hand, rejected claims that the veto could jeopardize spending on pensions or healthcare. Further developments will move to the Chamber of Deputies, which can override the presidential veto. seznamzpravy.cz ↗