New Czech cabinet promises to reform pension system, transport networks

The new Czech coalition government led by Petr Fiala of the Civic Democrats approved its policy programme for the next four years in office on Thursday. Among other things, it promises to reform the pensions system and extend the highway and high-speed network.

Leaked to the media, the document does not significantly differ from the coalition agreement released in November, but includes more details and concrete deadlines.

In the programme, the cabinet pledges to adopt the first stage of pension reform by the end of 2023. Fiala and his ministers also have big ambitions for the transport sector. They want to add an extra 200 kilometres to the highway network by 2025 and build 150 kilometres of the high-speed rail network by 2030, news website E15.cz reported.

As for COVID-19, the Czech Republic “should learn to live with it”, according to the government. Other plans include the revision of crisis management systems and building a Czech version of the German Robert Koch Institute for dealing with the pandemic.

Other plans aim at simplifying life for businesses, something to be expected from a centre-right government. Though Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura (Civic Democrats) presented some changes to the taxation system, he has avoided wider reforms.

The programme does not mention concrete steps to fight inflation, public debt, or the budgetary deficit, the highest ever in 2021.

The programme will be presented to the lower chamber of parliament next Wednesday together with a request for a vote of confidence. The new government has a comfortable 108-seat majority in the lower house.

(Ondřej Plevák | EURACTIV.cz)