PM says cabinet ready to debate pension reform with opposition

Prime Minister Petr Fiala has said his cabinet is ready to try to find consensus across the political spectrum for the government’s pension reform, but complained that the leading opposition party ANO had refused to negotiate the proposal in the past. The prime minister was reacting to a statement by President Pavel earlier this week urging for broad political consensus on the long-awaited pension reform. The opposition parties have complained that they were left out of the debate and have labelled the proposed reform “anti-social”.

The government’s proposal envisages a gradual increase in the retirement age linked to a higher life expectancy, a different basis for calculating old-age pensions, a lower indexation of pensions and a minimum pension amounting to 20 percent of the average wage. It would also enable early retirement for people in demanding professions.