Lower house approves state budget for 2025

The Czech Chamber of Deputies has approved the proposed 2025 state budget, with a CZK 241 billion deficit, in its third and final reading. The budget prioritizes fiscal consolidation, investments, and flood recovery. It was approved with the votes of the four ruling parties, despite severe criticism from the opposition, including the Pirate Party, which recently left the governing coalition.

The opposition criticized the size of the deficit, particularly in view of higher taxes, lower pension indexation and the introduction of a windfall profits tax. Alena Schillerová, chair of the opposition ANO party’s deputies’ club, said the budget was not based on real figures and was missing some items. She accused the ruling parties of impoverishing the most vulnerable groups of society - pensioners, families with children and single parents.