In the Czech Republic, a 'cardinal reduction' in payments to Ukrainian refugees is being discussed at the level of the tripartite coalition. This was stated by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic and leader of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, Tomio Okamura, whose remarks were reported by RBC-Ukraine citing Ukrinform. According to his assessment, cutting benefits by at least half has become a painful but necessary coalition compromise within the current government.
Coalition Compromise: How Much Benefits Will Be Cut
Okamura specified the figures: currently, according to him, the state pays about 8 billion crowns, plus an additional 4 billion crowns goes toward medical insurance for those who do not work. The compromise proposal involves reducing expenditures by approximately 4 billion crowns — meaning roughly by half. At the same time, the politician emphasized that his party 'does not want to pay anything at all' to Ukrainians and called the current volume of spending 'completely unacceptable wastefulness.'
What Will Change in Residence Rules
Concurrently, amendments to the Lex Ukrajina bill are being prepared. SPD MP Radek Koten revealed details of the tightening measures: it is planned to integrate the registries of the Ministry of Interior, the police, and other agencies to quickly verify the legality of the stay of Ukrainian citizens in the Czech Republic. Failure to meet the conditions entails the cancellation of permits or administrative deportation. The purpose of these measures, according to Koten, is to generate additional tax revenues and insurance contributions.
Mandatory Technical Inspection for Ukrainian Vehicles
A separate block of changes concerns transport. Starting in mid-2027, cars with Ukrainian registration, just like Czech ones, will be required to undergo regular technical inspections and emissions checks at local stations. For non-compliance with the rules, police will be able to detain the car on the spot and demand a deposit or a fine ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 Czech crowns.
Context: Bill Status and Senate Position
Okamura noted that the funds planned for savings are already accounted for in the draft budget, and the bill has been included on the meeting agenda, with the majority expecting to adopt it as soon as possible. Against this background, the previous context should be considered: the Czech Senate previously expressed support for Ukraine and distanced itself from the speaker's provocative statements, including his New Year address in which he called President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his entourage a 'junta' and stated that he does not want to see Ukraine in the European Union.
