The government's pension reform will worsen the situation for pensioners and does not address the long-term future of the pension system. Property taxes have increased by an average of 85%, but in some places, they have increased fivefold. This is another breach of pre-election promises by the Fiala government. Approximately 160,000 Czech citizens are currently in housing distress due to the Fiala government, and another 1.6 million citizens are at acute risk of housing distress. Members of the five-party coalition scandalously refused to condemn the assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. We disagree with President Pavel's view that the euro should be adopted. The SPD movement opposes the adoption of the euro and advocates for a referendum. We will not be in the same faction as Alternative for Germany due to statements made by its leaders that defend members of the SS.

1. The government's pension reform will worsen the situation for pensioners and does not address the long-term future of the pension system.

At a special session of the Chamber of Deputies convened on Tuesday, May 28th, the government's proposal for changes to our pension system will be debated. According to the SPD movement, this is not a pension reform, as repeatedly claimed by the Fiala government, but rather a set of parametric adjustments to the law on pension insurance. These changes will primarily worsen the conditions for future pensioners and will not bring stability to the pension system. Two of the measures proposed by the government are absolutely unacceptable to us: firstly, raising the retirement age to over 65 for citizens born in 1966 and younger, and secondly, reducing the ratio of pension to previous income for future retirees starting in 2026. The government's proposal does not address the issues that are crucial for the future of our pension system: ensuring increased income, including finding new sources, and establishing a strong, long-term, and systematic pro-family policy and support for childbirth in working families. Therefore, we will propose rejecting it as a whole. We are prepared to have our experts participate in the preparation of a systemic pension reform, but not based on this proposal.

2. Property taxes have increased by an average of 85%, but in some places, they have increased fivefold. This is another breach of pre-election promises by the Fiala government.

At the end of May, the deadline for paying property taxes for this year expires. Available data shows that due to the increase in the tax rate by the government of Petr Fiala as part of the so-called consolidation package, the amount of property tax for Czech citizens has increased by an average of 85%, with this increase being even more pronounced in many parts of the country, depending on whether municipalities and cities are increasing the basic tax rate by a local coefficient. In some cities, citizens are paying property taxes up to five times higher than last year. This is a blatant breach of pre-election promises by the Fiala government's five-party coalition that it would not raise any taxes. In fact, the Minister of Finance, Zbyněk Stanjura (ODS), even stated before the elections that raising property taxes was a dangerous and immoral punishment for people who had acquired housing with the money they were taxed. The government coalition is doing the exact opposite of what it promised people before the elections.

3. Approximately 160,000 Czech citizens are currently in housing distress due to the Fiala government, and another 1.6 million citizens are at acute risk of housing distress.

The Czech Republic is facing a shortage of hundreds of thousands of apartments. Mortgages and rental housing are very difficult for young people to access due to the high interest rates and prices, making it impossible for them to start a family. Approximately 160,000 Czech citizens are in dire housing situations, and another 1.6 million are at risk of facing similar circumstances. The government and the Minister of Regional Development, Ivan Bartoš (Pirates), are unable to address this critical situation. They have not prepared the necessary legislation and have failed to initiate the construction of affordable housing. The only solution they offer to citizens is social welfare in the form of housing subsidies. This is a failure of the government in one of its fundamental functions. The SPD movement has a clear concept for housing policy, including a system of state-guaranteed, favorable loans for housing, and a plan to significantly expand the availability of affordable housing for all decent and working citizens of the Czech Republic. We will advocate for this concept if we are part of the next government, when the incompetent government of Petr Fiala is over.

4. Members of the five-party coalition scandalously refused to condemn the assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

Last week, the Chamber of Deputies rejected, by the votes of the five-party coalition (ODS, KDU-ČSL, TOP 09, Pirates, and STAN), a motion from the SPD movement condemning the assassination attempt on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Members of the five-party coalition even refused to allow a vote on this motion. Meanwhile, the National Council of the Slovak Republic last week adopted a similar resolution condemning the attack with the votes of all 130 present deputies. In the adopted resolution, proposed by representatives of the Slovak governing coalition, the Slovak parliament called on political parties, political movements, the media, and non-governmental organizations not to spread hatred against democratically elected politicians. The behavior of members of the Czech governing coalition clearly shows who and which political forces in our society are spreading hatred, who are dividing and inciting people, who are escalating tensions, and who, on the other hand, are interested in calming the situation and in a free and cultured public discussion, and in an open competition of political parties, programs, and opinions. We consider the behavior of politicians from the Fiala government's coalition in this matter to be shameful and also offensive to the Slovak Republic, its government, and its citizens.

5. We disagree with President Pavel that it is necessary to adopt the euro. The SPD movement rejects the adoption of the euro in the Czech Republic and advocates for a referendum.

The President of the Republic, Petr Pavel, supported by the governing five-party coalition, publicly stated again last week that he is in favor of adopting the common European currency, the euro, which would replace the Czech crown. The President even rejects the idea of holding a nationwide, binding referendum on such a fundamental issue, in which all eligible Czech voters would have the right to express their opinion. The SPD movement disagrees with the President. The EU's 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 as Alternative for Germany due to statements by its leaders who defend members of the SS.

The leadership of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) movement strongly condemns the statements made by leading figures of the German political party Alternative for Germany (AfD), who, in their remarks, defend the actions of former members of the SS organization, and distances itself from such statements. The SPD movement also agrees with the exclusion of AfD from the Identity and Democracy group in the European Parliament, of which SPD is a member. In the future, SPD will not sit in the European Parliament in a joint group with representatives of the German political party Alternative for Germany, as previously announced by the National Rally led by Marine Le Pen.

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