Czech Premier Urges Opposition to Back Defense Spending Boost

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala called on the opposition to support higher defense spending as geopolitical risks become a contentious campaign issue before parliamentary elections.

The cabinet last week approved an increase in defense outlays by 0.2% of economic output a year, with the aim of reaching 3% of gross domestic product by 2030. But the plan was criticized by the ANO, the opposition party led by billionaire Andrej Babis that’s leading opinion polls for the ballot expected in September.