The Czech Republic will certainly not increase defense spending despite increasing NATO demands, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said today, quoted by Reuters, BTA reported.
Babiš's "Action of Dissatisfied Citizens" movement (known by its Czech acronym ANO) returned to power after last year's Czech parliamentary elections and is pushing through parliament a revised budget for this year. ANO faces criticism for cutting defense spending.
Babiš said before last year's election that the NATO agreement to gradually increase defense spending to 5% of GDP was unrealistic.
In an online interview with the news portal Denik.cz today, Babis was adamant that his government would not increase defense spending.
"Our priority is the health of our citizens - that they live long," he stressed.
Babiš won last year's election on promises to improve living standards by raising wages, cutting taxes and guaranteeing new social benefits.