The government's pension reform will worsen the position of pensioners and does not address the long-term future of the pension system. Property tax has risen by an average of 85 %, but in some places by up to five times. This is yet another breach of pre-election promises by the Fial government. Because of the Fial government, about 160 000 Czech citizens are in housing need, and another 1.6 million citizens are acutely threatened by housing need. The five coalition MPs scandalously refused to condemn the assassination of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. We do not agree with President Paul that we need to adopt the euro. The SPD rejects the adoption of the euro and is pushing for a referendum. We will not be in the same faction as Alternative for Germany because of the statements made by its leaders defending members of the SS.
1. The government's pension reform will worsen the position of pensioners and does not address the long-term future of the pension system.
At an extraordinary meeting of the Chamber of Deputies convened for Tuesday 28 May, the government's proposal for changes to our pension system will be discussed. According to the SPD, this is not a pension reform, as the Fial government has repeatedly claimed, but a set of several parametric adjustments to the Pension Insurance Act. These changes will mainly lead to a worsening of the conditions of future pensioners and will not bring stability to the pension system. Two of the measures proposed by the government are then totally unacceptable to us: firstly, the raising of the retirement age above 65 for citizens born in 1966 and younger, and also the reduction in the ratio of pension to previous work income for future seniors from 2026 onwards. The Government's proposal does not address at all the issues that are crucial to the future of our pension system: ensuring that its income increases, including the search for new sources of income, and setting up a strong, long-term and systematic pro-family policy and support for births in working families. We will therefore be proposing its rejection as a whole. We are ready to participate with our experts in the preparation of systemic pension reform, but not in this proposal.
2. Property tax increased by an average of 85 %, but in some places by up to five times. This is another violation of pre-election promises by the Fial government.
At the end of May, the property tax deadline for this year ends. Available data shows that due to the increase in the tax rate by the government of Petro Fiala as part of the so-called consolidation package, the tax rate for Czech citizens has increased by an average of 85 %, while in many parts of the country this increase is even more significant depending on whether municipalities and cities increase the basic tax rate by a local coefficient. Thus, in some towns and cities, citizens are paying property tax at up to five times the previous year's rate. On the part of Fial's ruling five-coalition, this is a gross violation of pre-election promises not to raise any taxes, with Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura (ODS) even saying directly before the elections that raising property tax is dangerous and immoral punishment of people who have bought housing with the taxed money. The ruling coalition is doing the exact opposite of what it promised people before the elections.
3. Because of the Fial government, approximately 160 000 Czech citizens are in housing need, and another 1.6 million citizens are acutely threatened by housing need.
Hundreds of thousands of flats are missing in the Czech Republic. Mortgages and rental housing are very difficult for young people to access due to the exorbitant rates and prices, and the cost of mortgages does not allow them to start a family. Approximately 160 000 Czech citizens are in housing need, and another 1.6 million citizens are acutely threatened by housing need. The government and the Minister for Regional Development, Ivan Bartoš (Piráti), are unable to address this critical situation, have not prepared the necessary legislation and are unable to start the construction of affordable housing. The only prescription they offer citizens is social benefits in the form of a housing allowance. This is a failure of the government in one of its basic functions. The SPD movement has prepared a clear concept of housing policy, a system of state-guaranteed advantageous housing loans and a project to fundamentally expand the capacity of affordable housing for all decent and working citizens of the Czech Republic. We will promote this concept if we are part of the next government, when the incompetent government of Petro Fiala ends.
4. Five coalition MPs scandalously refused to condemn the assassination of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Last week, the Chamber of Deputies refused to support a draft resolution of the SPD movement condemning the assassination of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico with the votes of the five-coalition coalition (ODS, KDU-ČSL, TOP 09, Pirates and STAN). Members of the five-coalition even refused to allow a vote on the resolution. Last week, the National Council of the Slovak Republic adopted a similar resolution condemning the SPD by the votes of all 130 MPs present. In the adopted resolution, which was proposed by representatives of the Slovak ruling coalition, the Slovak Parliament called on political parties, political movements, the media and non-governmental organisations not to spread hatred against democratically elected politicians. This behaviour by the members of the Czech ruling coalition makes it clear who and which political forces are spreading hatred in our society, who is dividing and dividing it, who is escalating tensions and who, on the contrary, is interested in calming the situation and in free and sophisticated society-wide discussion and open competition between political parties, programmes and opinions. We consider the behaviour of the politicians of the Fiala government coalition in this matter to be disgraceful and insulting to the Slovak Republic, its government and its citizens.
5. We disagree with President Paul that we need to adopt the euro. The SPD rejects the adoption of the euro in the Czech Republic and advocates a referendum.
Last week, Czech President Petr Pavel, supported by the ruling five-coalition, again publicly declared that he favours the adoption of the common European currency, the euro, to replace the Czech koruna. The President even rejects the idea of holding a national binding referendum on such a crucial issue, in which all eligible Czech voters would have the right to express their opinion. The SPD movement disagrees with the President. The EU monetary union is the last step before the creation of a supranational European superstate, which would mean the end of Czech state sovereignty. We defend Czech national interests and the Czech crown!
6. We will not be in the same faction with Alternative for Germany because of the statements of its leaders defending the SS.
The Presidium of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) movement strongly condemns and distances itself from the statements made by the leaders of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party, who in their statements defend the activities of former members of the SS organization. The SPD also agrees to the expulsion of the AfD from the European Parliament's Identity and Democracy Group, of which the SPD is a member. In the future, the SPD will not sit in the European Parliament in a joint group with representatives of the German political party Alternative for Germany, as has already been announced by Marine Le Pen's National Association.
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