When representatives of the governing coalition and the opposition meet, it almost always results in strained communication. And it was no different this Sunday, especially when the topics discussed in the debate studio were very sensitive for citizens’ wallets.
For example, Alena Schillerová pointed out her opponent Skopeček about the vicissitudes surrounding the real estate tax increase. And she pointed out a number of points with which neither she nor the party she represents are in agreement. In her opinion, the Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies did not know how to respond well to some. She suggested that she might not have enough information.
“How come you don’t know about it? At the same time property tax increases – that’s just a faint taste of what you’re up to. This was prepared by your finance minister and you don’t know about it?” Schiller asked. And she listed what, in her opinion, these steps will cause in real life to citizens – among other things, for example, further increases in rents.
Skopeček defended himself by saying that the criticism expressed in this way was absurd, but the atmosphere in the studio grew thick at times. “Behave yourself!” Tománková had to admonish both guests at times. Skopeček also reproached Schiller for interrupting him.
“You also don’t know about all the materials your MPs are preparing,” returned Skopeček’s attacks towards Schillerová.
How many times did ODS have a balanced budget?
As expected, the discussion very quickly turned to the budget and its deficit. The ping pong between the two debaters accelerated. Skopeček read that ANO left a large deficit during its rule that could not be corrected. Schiller defended herself by saying that such a result was the result of pandemic measures during covid – which could not be predicted in any way and was unprecedented in the past.
“I have to ask: How many times have you, as ODS, been in government and how many times have you had a balanced budget? As far as I remember, only under Mr. Kočárník, never before,” said the former finance minister for ANO in Skopeček.
And she continued on. “Now where are your promised savings? The resorts are starving,” she stated. She earned further criticism for this.
Bullshit on both sides?
“They are really nonsense,” responded Skopeček. Schiller objected that he needed to state the facts as well. “Otherwise so you are talking nonsense here too,” she returned to him, saying that now their party is in power in the coalition – so let them show what can be done better than ANO did. That also raised Skopeček and he returned the smash again.
“You are not inunable to take any state-building step at all! You have turned the topics 180 degrees. During your government, you spoke differently on many issues than you do now,” he scolded the opposition.
However, he admitted that he did they really promised a faster consolidation of public finances. “If it weren’t for the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis, we would certainly have managed it faster. But even so, the consolidation continues,” said Skopeček.
He evidently did not convince Schiller, because immediately a question came from her side: “Aren’t you ashamed?”
Fees and the role of public media?
Another topic of the first hour of the program was fees for public media, which are supposed to grow. And it logically arouses many discussions, passions and criticism.
„Czech Radio fees have not increased since 2005, Czech Television since 2008. It is logical that there is an increase. But she should have been guided discussion about the role of what these media should look like. And it should have been running here a long time ago,” said Jan Skopeček. As he added, strong media should have their place in our country to exist alongside private ones.
“It is certain that the debate on this topic will be long and it is a real shame that it has not been held for 20 years. But that doesn’t change anything, does it it’s just another tax on people. Dramatic about it is not the increase itself, andexcept that it will concern not only those who have a receiver, but also companies and people who have smart phones, tablets,Alena Schillerová hinted at what the next political discussion will be about.
