The government of Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš approved several important steps at Monday's meeting. In addition to the proposal to increase the parental allowance, it also decided to nominate Lieutenant General Miroslav Hlaváč to head the Czech Army and extended the regulation of fuel prices until the end of May.

The parental allowance for newborn children should increase from the current CZK 350 000 to CZK 400 000 from 1 January 2027. For multiples, the amount would rise from CZK 700 000 to CZK 800 000. According to the government, the change should take into account inflation in recent years and better reflect the current costs of families with young children.

The draft amendment to the Act on State Social Support will now go to the Chamber of Deputies. If approved, parents of children born or taken into permanent care after 1 January 2027 will receive a higher allowance.

Miroslav Hlaváč to replace Karel Rehka

The Cabinet also approved a proposal that the President of the Republic appoint the current First Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Miroslav Hlaváč, as the new Chief of the General Staff of the Army of the Czech Republic as of 1 July 2026. He would replace General Karel Rehk in the post.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš described Hlaváč as a natural successor.

„He has vast experience and is a logical choice as First Deputy within the career order,“ the Prime Minister said. However, the President of the Republic will have the final say, before the nomination is also considered by the Parliamentary Defence Committee.

Regulation of petrol and diesel prices continues

The government has also extended the price assessment for regulated fuels for the period from 20 to 31 May 2026, due to continued tensions in the Hormuz Strait region, which increases the risk of a sharp rise in oil prices.

The Ministry of Finance will continue to publish maximum petrol and diesel prices on a daily basis. Traders' margins will remain capped at CZK 3 per litre.

Some agendas will be moved from the Government Office to ministries

The Cabinet also decided to reorganize some of the agendas previously administered by the Government Office.

Drug policy and mental health will come under the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs will take over the agenda of persons with disabilities, gender equality and part of the agenda of national minorities. Cooperation with civil society, human rights and equal opportunities will now fall under the Ministry of Justice.

According to the government, the change is intended to eliminate duplication, simplify the procedure and reduce administrative costs for the state.

The government also supported other legislative proposals

The Cabinet expressed support for two Senate bills and one MP bill.

The Senate wants to change the validity of the one-day vignette from a calendar day to exactly 24 hours. It also proposes to make the ballots for Senate and presidential elections simpler and easier for people with visual impairments to vote.

A group of MPs is proposing to reduce the compensation for the universal postal service from CZK 2 billion to CZK 1.5 billion and to postpone the launch of the eLegislation and the new registry information system.

gnews.cz - GH