Czech soldiers , army – illustration photo.
Prague – MPs should deal with new military legislation today. It is a government proposal which, among other things, expands the possibilities of voluntary involvement of the population in the defense of the Czech Republic. Another bill would commit the state to spend two percent of gross domestic product on defense each year. Regular interpellations with members of the government are also on the agenda of the business day.
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Currently, people can become a professional soldier, join the active reserve, or volunteer to participate in a military exercise. The draft adds the so-called voluntary predetermination for the replenishment of the armed forces to these possibilities of involvement in the defense of the state. A person who applies for them would only have to undergo a medical examination immediately. However, if the security situation were to worsen, he would have to undergo training.
The amendment also regulates, for example, the remuneration of soldiers in active reserve and will allow the Ministry of Defense to use data from public administration information systems for defense planning even outside of a state of national threat or war. state. It will enshrine the legal regulation of military trains with the aim of providing them with priority passage by rail.
The Czech Republic has repeatedly made a political commitment in the North Atlantic Alliance to increase defense spending to at least two percent of gross domestic product. The government coalition wants to fulfill the promise by 2025 at the latest. However, the draft law could come into effect as early as July, and would therefore already apply to next year's state budget. Compared to the medium-term budget outlook, the Ministry of Defense's revenues could thus increase by about 21.5 billion crowns in 2024. So far, plans have included defense expenditures of 130 billion crowns.
