The ANO, SPD, and Motorists parties coalition is once again pushing the boundaries of what is considered acceptable in democratic politics. While with one hand, they are weakening the law on conflicts of interest, with the other, they are threatening cultural events in response to criticism of their ministers. TOP 09 will therefore address issues such as the protection of public funds, freedom of speech, the adoption of the euro, and climate change, which some government politicians still deny, at the meeting of the Chamber of Deputies.

"A politician is not in public office to simply receive applause. They must also be able to tolerate dissent. If the response to criticism is to consider cutting funding, it is not a sign of strength, but of wounded pride. Public funds are not a reward for obedience or a punishment for disagreement," said Jan Jakob, chairman of the TOP 09 parliamentary club, referring to the weekend disruption of the folklore festival in Strážnice by Minister of Culture Oto Klempíř and subsequently by Deputy Prime Minister Petr Macinka.

According to TOP 09, this is not an isolated incident. The government is applying the same logic in the Chamber of Deputies. The proposed amendment to the law on conflicts of interest, drafted by coalition members, weakens the rules that are intended to prevent politicians from making decisions about public funds for their own benefit. "Laws should not be written to suit politicians. However, the government is proposing changes that weaken the protection of public funds and open the door for conflicts of interest to return to the highest levels of politics. We cannot accept this," said TOP 09 Member of Parliament Zdenka Blišťanová.

TOP 09 demands that the current safeguards against conflicts of interest be maintained and also rejects shortening the deadlines for recovering improperly paid subsidies. This could cost the Czech Republic billions of crowns, which are intended to serve citizens, not privileged groups. TOP 09 also presented a series of proposed amendments to the bill to restore electronic sales records. TOP 09 rejects the idea that EET (electronic sales records) should become another bureaucratic tool that burdens businesses.

"Payments by card or bank transfer are already traceable in the banking system. There is no reason for businesses to send the same data to the state again. The sales records should be a record of sales, not a registry of everything a business uses in its operations," said Jakob.

In addition to defending democratic principles, TOP 09 also wants to open a debate about the future of the Czech currency. TOP 09 Member of Parliament Helena Langšádlová therefore proposes that parliamentarians discuss the adoption of the euro, as well as the impacts of climate change, which we are all experiencing more acutely in recent days. "The Czech Republic faces challenges that will determine what our country will look like in ten or twenty years. One of these challenges is climate change. Extreme heat, prolonged drought, a drying landscape, or more frequent weather fluctuations are not an ideology or a trendy topic. Nevertheless, representatives of the government downplay climate change or pretend that it does not exist. This is dangerous and irresponsible towards future generations," said Langšádlová.

TOP 09 is also striving to open a discussion about the adoption of the euro, which TOP 09 has long advocated for. The Czech Republic cannot afford to stand still while neighboring countries strengthen their competitiveness and economic influence within the European Union. "The adoption of the euro is not an ideological issue. It is a matter of the prosperity of the Czech Republic. Countries that have adopted the euro have higher economic growth, more investment, and a higher standard of living. However, the government is avoiding a substantive debate on this issue and acting as if the problem does not exist," said Langšádlová.

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According to TOP 09, it is necessary to invest in energy security, modern technologies, and measures that help mitigate the effects of climate change, as well as continue preparations for joining the Eurozone. "We can either close our eyes to reality or prepare for it. Responsible policy means the latter. If the government is serious about the prosperity of the country, it should stop avoiding the issues that will determine our future," added Helena Langšádlová.

"Trust in the state rests on the principle that the rules apply equally to everyone. When politicians start adjusting them to suit their own needs, as happened in the case of the amendment to the law on conflicts of interest, they are not weakening the opposition. They are undermining the citizens' trust in democracy and jeopardizing the disbursement of funds," concluded Zdeňka Blišťanová.

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