Survival of liberal-conservative government in Czech Republic: A Closer Look at the No Confidence Vote and Fiscal Consolidation Plans

2023-10-18 23:25:54

The liberal-conservative government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala in the Czech Republic has survived a vote of no confidence. Only 85 MPs voted for the motion on Thursday night. 101 votes would have been necessary. This was preceded by a more than 30-hour exchange of blows between the government and the opposition in the House of Representatives in Prague, the more important of the two parliamentary chambers.

The opposition party ANO of ex-prime minister and billionaire Andrej Babis submitted the application following it became known that Interior Minister Vit Rakusan had privately owned an encrypted crypto cell phone. The minister replied that he had a clear conscience. “A phone with an encryption app doesn’t make a person a mafioso,” wrote the 45-year-old on Twitter (X).

The coalition of five parties has been in office since December 2021. It is pursuing an extensive savings and consolidation package under the motto “Getting the Czech Republic into shape”. Over the next two years, the budget is now to be reduced by the equivalent of around six billion euros. To this end, spending and subsidies should be reduced and taxes increased – including on alcohol, cigarettes, mineral water and real estate.

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