Emerging coalition may send 2026 draft budget back for revision

The emerging ANO–SPD–Motorists coalition will agree on its next steps regarding the 2026 state budget on Monday. ANO vice-chair and likely future finance minister Alena Schillerová has said that she would recommend returning the draft to the outgoing government for revision with specific instructions. This would mean a period of provisional budgeting.

The draft budget proposed by the outgoing government foresees a 286 billion-crown deficit. ANO claims that the proposal fails to cover mandatory and legally required expenditures, as well as key investment spending totaling 95.9 billion crowns.

The outgoing cabinet has rejected the criticism, arguing that ANO is preparing the ground for a significant increase in the deficit.