Schillerová: keeping 2026 budget deficit below 300bn crowns will be difficult

Finance Minister Alena Schillerová, the ANO party deputy leader, said it would be very difficult to keep the 2026 state budget deficit below 300 billion crowns, as ministers have been ordered to cut spending. Speaking on Czech TV she said the draft prepared by the previous government underestimated both revenues and expenditures, leaving the country in budgetary provisional management. According to Vladimír Pikora of the Motorists’ party, some ministries are cutting close to ten percent of operating costs. National Budget Council chairman Mojmír Hampl warned the planned deficit would breach fiscal responsibility rules.