Author: Czech Army|Caption: Pandur II 8x8 CZ
At the last week’s extraordinary meeting the Government approved the transfer of 5 billion crowns from the budget reserve to the budget of the Ministry of Defense. Another 5 billion crowns, which the Ministry of Defense is still to receive, is to be transferred to its budget „maybe“ in February, said Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.
An extraordinary meeting of the Government approved the transfer of 5 billion crowns to the defense budget, the remaining funds are to be received in February, Babiš said vaguely yesterday before the Government meeting.
The Minister of Defense, Lubomír Metnar, who, after a long time, publicly commented on the events in the Army, acknowledged this step positively. "I am glad that the Government approved the transfer of CZK 5 billion from the budget reserve to the MoD’s budget. It is at least a partial fulfillment of the promise to the soldiers and the result of complex negotiations. I believe that in February the Government will also discuss the transfer of the remaining funds," the Minister of Defense said on Twitter.
See also: The Government is running out of time to deal with the Defense budget
However, Babiš did not fulfill his promise to transfer 10 billion crowns to the budget of the Ministry of Defense in January, and now he has commented vaguely on the remaining 5 billion crowns. "The Government will approve the transfer from the Government's budget reserve to the Army's budget of five billion, the remaining five will be clarified after an analysis of the demands of individual ministries, including defense. I assume that it will be next month," the Prime Minister said on the Czech Television.
Babiš did not specify what the "analysis of the demands of individual ministries" means, which can also be translated as other possible financial demands of other ministries, which can theoretically "cut" part of the money from the mentioned 5 billion crowns belonging originally and by many promises to the Ministry of Defense. Another 5 billion crowns, which is to be transferred to the defense budget, stays imaginarily in the air and it is not certain when (if) the ministry will receive them.
The chairwoman of the Defense Committee, Jana Černochová, stated:
"We use to say that at least something is better than nothing. I should probably be happy that the Government will move five billion crowns from the reserve to the Army budget. It did. But I'm not jumping for joy.
First, the governing coalition, under pressure from the Communists, removed ten billion in December. It promised to return them by the end of January, but now it will give the Army only one half (the Prime Minister's „return of the rest probably in February“ does not really sound convincing...).
See also: The Ministry of Defense used funds successfully in 2020 - but also at the cost of overpriced acquisitions
Secondly, it does not solve the problem, even if the hands are a little freed, the planned investments are still compromised (for example, over four billion crowns are to be spent on IFV replacement this year, and they are in the ten billion in question).
Third, the reluctance to move ten billion is proof of how much the Communists are holding the Government by the throat.
Unfortunately, it is clear that Prime Minister Babiš has not fulfilled his promises, which is why I will not withdraw my words about him. I will not accept this paternal behavior and gambling with our defense. We have a meeting of the Defense Committee next week, and this point will be one of the main topics. I will demand a clear commitment that the Army will get what belongs to it."