Cabinet approves transfer of 5 billion crowns to Defence Ministry

The cabinet has approved a transfer of 5 billion crowns from state reserves to the Ministry of Defence, Defence Minister Lubomír Metnar told journalists on Wednesday.

The money is to make up for a last-minute cut in defence spending to the tune of 10 billion which the cabinet made in order to secure Communist Party support for the 2021 state budget.

The demand caused an outcry from the opposition and the prime minister promised that the shift would be temporary and the army would not lose the money.

Minister Metnar said he welcomed the move and trusted that the head of government would deliver on his promise to return the full amount as soon as possible.