On 21 October 2026 the Chamber of Deputies debated the government's draft budget for 2027, with a deficit of CZK 386 billion.
The Chamber of Deputies was due to hold the first reading of the government's draft state budget for 2027 on 21 October 2026. At this stage the debate concerned the basic parameters of the budget: revenue, expenditure, the deficit and how it is to be financed.
The draft assumes revenue of CZK 2.199 trillion, which is CZK 80.8 billion more than this year, and expenditure of CZK 2.585 trillion, CZK 156.8 billion more. The deficit is to reach CZK 386 billion, CZK 76 billion more than in the approved 2026 budget. The government wants to cover most of it by increasing the state debt. It names investment, support for health and fair pay as its priorities.
Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (ANO 2011) said the day before that she was not satisfied with the deficit but did not want to use budget tricks. Opposition parties describe the draft as a budget fit for a crisis year and criticise mainly the size of the deficit. A deficit of this size would be the second highest since 2021, when it reached CZK 419.7 billion. The opposition sought to return the draft to the government for rework; according to the Czech News Agency, the coalition has enough votes to send it on.
The finance minister's speech and the interruption of the debate
Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (ANO 2011) described the draft budget at the Chamber's sitting on 21 October 2026 as record-breaking in investment and strongly pro-growth. In her words, it was drawn up without hidden off-budget loans and inflated revenue. Investment is to total CZK 291 billion, CZK 50 billion more from national sources. Public health insurance revenue is to rise by more than CZK 50 billion to CZK 605 billion. Transport, defence and energy are among the investment priorities. The minister also recalled the continued relief on payments for renewable sources, the return of the childcare allowance, tax credits for working students and a wider exemption for employee benefits.[3][4]
According to the fiscal-structural plan sent to the European Commission in June, the government expects the deficit to fall from 2.8 percent of GDP in 2027 to two percent in 2028, 1.6 percent a year later and 1.2 percent in 2030. Schillerová said the plan would be met through a combination of measures on both the revenue and expenditure sides, but she did not specify them in advance. She mentioned that an extraordinary sector tax for refineries is before the Chamber.[5]
The opposition ODS proposes savings on public-sector pay and a lower state contribution to renewable sources. Opposition representatives pointed out that the deficit exceeds planned investment spending by roughly CZK 100 billion.[3][5]
Interruption of the debate
The Chamber interrupted the first reading after 11:15 p.m., about 13 hours into the debate. Opposition groups requested breaks for consultations totalling almost ten hours, that is, until the morning of Thursday 22 October. About two dozen deputies were still registered to speak. According to the Czech News Agency, the proceedings were to resume on Thursday. The first request for a break was made by Marek Benda, chairman of the ODS group, who argued that the appearances of government representatives in the first part of the day had been too long. Schillerová said she had spoken for 40 minutes and Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO 2011) for an hour and ten minutes, and accused the opposition of obstruction.[3]
In the first reading the Chamber approves the basic parameters of the budget, which can no longer be changed. In the second reading only shifts within the budget may be proposed. According to the Czech News Agency, the coalition has enough votes to push the budget through.[3]
Chronology
- — The Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic is to consider in first reading the government's draft state budget for 2027, with a deficit of CZK 386 billion, revenues of CZK 2.199 trillion and expenditures of CZK 2.585 trillion. ČTK / České noviny Blesk.cz
- — Finance Minister Alena Schillerová defended the government's draft state budget for 2027, with a deficit of 386 billion crowns, in the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic and said that savings and new revenue are meant to reduce the deficit in the coming years. ČTK / České noviny Novinky.cz
- — In the first reading, the Chamber of Deputies backed a government amendment under which only applicants who prove a legitimate interest to the Ministry of Justice would have access to the register of beneficial owners of companies; the register has been closed to the public since December 2025. Seznam Zprávy Hospodářské noviny
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 21 October 2026
- Blesk.cz — 21 October 2026
- ČTK / České noviny — 21 October 2026
- Novinky.cz — 21 October 2026
- Echo24 — 21 October 2026