Babiš Defends Budget with 389 Billion Crown Deficit

06.09.2026 13:00 HotInfo

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš rejected criticism of the proposed state budget for next year, which Finance Minister Alena Schillerová prepared with a deficit of 389 billion crowns. In his Sunday statement, he said that he does not like the high deficit, but according to him, the government must now invest and build. lidovky.cz ↗

Babiš argues that the cabinet will return to solving the debt problem later. He also recalled his involvement in public finances ten years ago and promised that he would reduce the deficit again. At the same time, he criticized high interest rates and turned to Czech National Bank Governor Aleš Michl. ekonomickydenik.cz ↗

The proposed budget has provoked criticism from political opponents and economists. Economist Jan Vejmělek pointed out that high government investments could increase construction work and material costs and postpone, for example, housing construction. Objections are also being raised in the field of education, where Teachers' Platform chairman Michal Kaderka criticized government promises about prioritizing education. novinky.cz ↗

Former Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek also entered the debate, calling on ANO movement voters to express their disagreement with the government's budget policy. The dispute over the deficit thus remains one of the main domestic political issues and will continue during the budget debate. forum24.cz ↗