Defense Min. Jana Černochová of ODS asked in the legislative-review process that the cost-cutting measures of the cabinet’s austerity package not be applied to her ministry. The cabi-net wants to boost defense spending next year to 2% of GDP, which would mean an increasein just one year of 34%, to more than Kč 150bn. It seems rather odd in such a case to ask thedefense ministry to cut back on operating expenses and salaries. Army Chief of Staff Karel Řehka said in Oct. of last year that anyone who questions the 2% Nato commitment shouldbe disqualified from public debate, “because it is a commitment, and respectable people andrespectable countries meet their commitments. Period.” But that was before the cabinet madeits additional commitment of across-the-board cuts. How is the defense ministry supposed to cut costs next year and simultaneously increase defense spending by nearly Kč 40bn? Byfront-loading equipment contracts? That won’t sell very well among cash-strapped voters.

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