PM: government will not back down under pressure from unions

Prime Minister Petr Fiala defended the government's austerity package on Monday as school, healthcare and industrial workers across the country went on strike in protest against the measures. At a press briefing in Brno, the prime minister said that the government will not back down under pressure from the unions, calling the cabinet's public spending measures necessary steps for a financially healthy future for Czechia.

He criticised the trade unions, saying the strikes were an attempt by leaders to make themselves more visible and there were political ambitions behind it. He also said that misinformation was circulating about what the austerity package would mean for education, which was influencing the protesters.

He said that he was prepared to return to negotiations with union leaders once they were interested in having a constructive discussion and trying to reach an agreement, but not under the threat of further protests, adding that the unions were holding the whole country hostage and probably took the government's willingness to negotiate as a sign of weakness.