Babiš Clarifies Drought Funding, Ševčík Criticizes Hysteria

16.08.2026 15:01 HotInfo 2

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš clarified that the four billion crowns, which he mentioned Thursday at the Slapy Dam in connection with fighting drought, are not new additional money. According to his statement, it is the planned budget of the water management section of the Ministry of Agriculture. seznamzpravy.cz ↗

The drought topic simultaneously became a subject of political debate. Miroslav Ševčík, deputy chair of the Chamber's budget committee, elected for SPD, disagreed with Babiš in a television special Czech Politics regarding the severity of the problem. According to him, the current government is handling the fight against drought very well, and he labeled the approach to some climate debates as hysterical. forum24.cz ↗

The debate also included a claim that the climate crisis has ended. In response, a congresswoman noted that Motorists mock such conclusions. Thus the dispute reveals different views on whether measures against drought should be understood as an urgent response to climate change, or as a normal part of the state's water management. lidovky.cz ↗

From this week onwards, the National Coalition Against Drought, which Babiš announced last week at the Slapy Dam, is to begin operating. Further developments will depend on how the government explains the financing of the measures and how specifically the planned water management budget will be reflected in practical projects. zpravy.aktualne.cz ↗