The next Czech government does not intend to join the euro

Although the five parties in the center-right coalition generally support a possible changeover to the euro, this issue will not be high on the agenda for the next four years.

“We need to put our public finances in order, so if anyone wants to [eiro], we have no chance to join [eirozonā] now because we do not meet the criteria, “admitted Stanjura, who represents the Liberally Conservative Civic Democratic Party (OSD).

The Ministry of Finance forecasts that the budget deficit this year will be 7.7% of the gross domestic product (GDP), which is more than twice the budget deficit ceiling set by the European Union (EU) – 3% of GDP.

However, Sanjura has also pointed to another reason why joining the eurozone is currently postponed.

“It is our long-standing position that we should switch to the euro only when it is beneficial for the Czech Republic,” the politician emphasized, adding that such conditions had not yet developed.

The new coalition plans to agree on the distribution of the next government’s program and ministerial portfolios by November 8, when the new term of the lower house of parliament will meet.

Among the members of the coalition that won the majority in the October 8 and 9 elections and are planning to replace the current minority government led by Prime Minister Andrei Babiss, the largest representation in parliament is the ODS, which is most skeptical about the euro.

At the same time, the left-wing Pirate Party in the new coalition promised in the pre-election program to join the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM II) over the next four years, which is a precondition for the transition to the EU’s single currency.

However, the “pirates” are the smallest representation in the lower house of parliament among the representatives of the next coalition.