The catalyst for this shift in tone is the “bitcoin scandal,” which Schillerová identifies as a defining moment for the current administration. She asserts that the resignation of Finance Minister Pavel Blažek did not resolve the issue, but rather exposed a deeper structural failure. “It even spread beyond our borders,” Schillerová stated, noting that international media coverage has moved beyond criticizing a single minister to questioning the competence of the entire Czech government. For Schillerová, this international perception is a critical liability for the ruling coalition, casting a “very bad light” on the nation’s institutional reliability.
Alongside the bitcoin controversy, Schillerová has highlighted specific fiscal discrepancies that she claims undermine public trust. A prominent example involves the allocation of funds following last year’s floods. While the government publicly stated that tens of billions of crowns were borrowed to assist flood victims, Schillerová points to findings by the independent National Budget Council indicating that the vast majority of these funds were not used for their intended purpose. She notes that out of thirty billion crowns added to the state budget reserve, only approximately four billion—roughly a tenth—were spent on flood aftermath and property restoration. “The government took fourteen billion and secretly used it for something else entirely,” Schillerová claimed, labeling the practice an insult to both victims and the public. She argues that these “budgetary tricks” have become routine under the current finance minister, Zbyněk Stanjura, serving as a fix for discrepancies in the 2024 state budget rather than a genuine response to crisis.
Schillerová’s critique extends to other sectors, specifically the Ministry of Defense. ANO is preparing to file a criminal complaint regarding purchases at the ministry, which Schillerová describes as a “complete departure from transparent spending.” She alleges that the ministry systematically fails to publish contracts in the public register and has engaged in overpriced purchases from companies linked to former ODS politicians. One specific example cited is the purchase of field kitchens, for which the ministry paid a significant sum but, according to journalists, has not yet physically received the equipment. These allegations aim to portray the current government as opaque and complicit in corrupt practices, contrasting sharply with ANO’s proposed platform of fiscal discipline.
Politically, Schillerová is positioning ANO as the sole viable alternative capable of restoring stability. She rejects the sociological view that elections serve only to confirm ruling power, arguing instead that they are “the strongest tool that citizens have to decide their country’s future.” Her campaign narrative emphasizes that the current government has allowed organized crime to infiltrate high-level politics and has failed in economic management. To counter this, Schillerová highlights ANO’s track record during its previous tenure in power, particularly between 2017 and 2021. She points to a reduction in national debt from 44.4% of GDP in 2013, when the current opposition held the finance portfolio, to 30% by early 2020, prior to the pandemic. Although debt rose to 43.5% following pandemic-era support measures, Schillerová argues this remains below the European average, ranking Czechia sixth in indebtedness among EU countries.
The ANO platform proposes a return to a balanced budget within seven years, achieved through “proper tax collection and fighting tax evasion and fraud” rather than tax increases. Schillerová cites the success of the lump-sum tax for sole traders, used by over 80,000 small entrepreneurs, and the abolition of the super-gross wage as evidence of the party’s ability to simplify the economy and boost living standards. She contrasts this with the current government’s reliance on deficit spending, noting that the deficit increased from 279 billion crowns in July 2021 to an approved 390 billion for the current year. She argues that further strain on the budget, such as flat-rate pay raises, is unnecessary given the effects of lower taxes and increased employee retention credits.
However, the path to power is not without internal friction. Schillerová acknowledges frequent conflicts with Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, particularly regarding budget deficits and wage policies. She states that she disagrees with certain expenses and believes the current economic measures are sufficient to combat inflation without additional budgetary pressure. In the South Moravian Region, where Schillerová leads the ANO ticket, the party faces the challenge of repairing its reputation after the Švachula affair. She claims the organization has undergone “self-reflection” and that her leadership requires a guarantee of stability and low taxes to win back local voters.
As the election date approaches, the political battle has moved beyond policy specifics to a contest of credibility. Schillerová’s strategy relies on the premise that voters are deeply troubled by the erosion of economic dignity, where “families count every penny just to get by.” She argues that the current government’s failures have led to a loss of hope, a sentiment she seeks to capitalize on. The outcome will depend on whether the public accepts the ANO narrative of fiscal responsibility and institutional integrity, or whether they view the opposition’s criticisms as partisan attacks on a government struggling with unprecedented global and domestic challenges. The next few weeks will determine if the “scandal of the Czech government” becomes a decisive factor in the transfer of power.
