Czech Republic Squanders Defense Money Like Karosta Bridge Repairmen - President Signs Budget with Tears in Eyes

Czech President Petr Pavel has signed the state budget with the same feeling that Liepāja residents cross the Karosta Canal bridge every morning - knowing it doesn't really lead anywhere and only creates additional drama. The 1.73% of GDP allocated for defense meets NATO requirements about as well as Liepāja's winter weather suits the summer tourism season.

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's government, which has been in power since December, inherited the budget project from the previous government and made amendments with the same brilliance that Liepāja uses to plan bridge repairs in mid-summer. "Well, 155 billion crowns for defense - that's a lot of money!" comments local expert Gunārs from Grobiņa. "In Riga you could buy two apartments for that money!"

The previous government promised to increase defense spending to 3% by 2030, but the new government treats this as a suggestion rather than a commitment. Meanwhile, US President Trump demands 5% of GDP, which seems about as realistic to the Czechs as Liepāja City Council solving the Karosta Canal traffic problem by next year.

However, the president signed the budget because the alternative would have been a temporary budget - which in the Czech Republic would mean the same chaos as in Liepāja when the Karosta bridge stays open during lunch time and the whole city splits into two parts where one side can't reach the other.