Finance minister seeks guarantees on defence and Dukovany spending

Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura of Civic Democrats (ODS) said he wants the emerging coalition of ANO, the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), and the Motorists’ parties to guarantee that the 2026 state budget will preserve planned spending on defence and the loan for new nuclear units in Dukovany. He considers this a condition for resubmitting the draft budget to parliament. The outgoing government proposed a deficit of 286 billion crowns, while the legally allowed limit is 237 billion. Stanjura said the extra 49 billion covers defence spending above two percent of GDP and the Dukovany loan, both exempt from fiscal rules.