Andrej Babiš denies state funding for regional road repairs

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has confirmed that Czech regions will not receive funding from the State Fund for Transport Infrastructure for the repair of lower-class roads next year. Babiš stated on social media that regional governments possess sufficient funds from tax revenue allocations to manage these repairs themselves, noting that regions hold approximately 150 billion CZK in their accounts.

The Prime Minister highlighted the national deficit, suggesting that regions should utilize their surpluses rather than requesting state aid. According to Ministry of Finance data, regions, municipalities, and voluntary associations of municipalities reported a budget surplus of 60.5 billion CZK in the first half of the year, despite a 6.3 percent year-on-year decrease.

Specifically, regions recorded a surplus of 32.1 billion CZK in the first half of 2026. While this represents an 8.2 percent decrease from the previous year, it remains the third-highest historical surplus. The Ministry of Transport noted that while regions will receive over four billion CZK this year for specific transport projects, funding for general road repairs is non-mandatory. Regional governors and the Association of Regions of the Czech Republic have expressed disagreement with the decision.