News

The Chamber of Deputies has started debating the government’s proposed state budget for 2026 with a planned deficit of 310 billion crowns.

In the first reading, the Chamber of Deputies will vote on the main budget parameters, including revenues, expenditures and the deficit. A lengthy debate is expected, after which the lower house is likely to approve the core figures with support from the governing coalition.

In the second reading lawmakers will be able to propose reallocations within the overall budget.

The opposition has criticized both the size of the deficit and what it describes as a breach of the law on budgetary responsibility. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (ANO) rejects claims of a legal violation, arguing that the law applies only to budgets discussed within the standard timeframe. She has described the draft as realistic and the proposed deficit as optimal, given mandatory expenditures.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Wednesday evening. According to the French Embassy in the Czech Republic, President Macron will want to discuss continued support for Ukraine and increased defence spending in line with NATO commitments.

The meeting will likely also cover concerns over the EU's competitiveness ahead of Thursday’s informal EU summit, as well as the Czech government’s stance on the Board of Peace established by US President Donald Trump. France has declined to join the initiative; Babiš recently said Czechia is not considering such a move at the present time, adding that such a decision would have to be approved by the Czech Parliament, and should be coordinated  with other EU member states.

Earlier in the day, the prime minister will visit the Gustave Roussy oncology institute in Villejuif, near Paris.

Czech businessman Daniel Křetínský has been unusually active over the past year and is playing an increasingly important role in European business, the British journal The Economist wrote last week. It noted that exactly a year ago, Křetínský strengthened his position in the German group Metro and acquired Britain’s Royal Mail.

Listing his recent activity, the article included that Křetínský's EP  is set to become the main shareholder in France’s TotalEnergies, and that the group has acquired a 28.5% stake in French electronics retailer Fnac Darty. Křetínský also owns a 50% stake in Czech Media Invest, which controls several French media outlets as well as Czech News Center (CNC), one of the Czech Republic’s largest media groups.

In an interview with The Economist, Křetínský said Europe’s efforts to decarbonise had, in his view, failed and damaged European industry. He warned against high taxes and excessive bureaucracy, which he said were discouraging capital and talent.

The Škoda Elroq has been named Czechia’s Car of the Year 2026, with the Mercedes-Benz CLA finishing second and the BMW iX3 in third, the Association of Automobile Importers announced today. The winner was selected by 19 leading Czech motoring journalists.

Škoda last won the award in 2018 with the Karoq, on which the Elroq is based. Launched in 2025, the Elroq quickly became the best-selling electric car in the Czech Republic and Europe’s second-best-selling EV. It is Škoda’s second electric model after the Enyaq.