PM Fiala's Christmas warning: Trust in progress or risk Eastern authoritarianism

Prime Minister Petr Fiala warned that 2025 would determine whether Czechs trust themselves, seize opportunities, and work toward better lives—or fall prey to disillusionment and turn toward Eastern authoritarianism. Speaking in his Christmas address, Fiala criticized "fearmongers" for spreading negativity to incite envy, hatred, and doubt.

Fiala, leader of the Civic Democratic Party, stressed there is only one path for the Czechia: greater freedom, prosperity, and personal responsibility. "We must be a proud European nation with an active civil society," he said.

He cautioned that fearmongers aim to sow distrust and weaken society, making people vulnerable to manipulation. This, he warned, could lead to surrendering personal responsibility to authoritarian leaders, as seen in parts of Europe today.

Reflecting on his previous Christmas speech, which emphasized hope, Fiala stated that his 2024 prediction—that inflation would stabilize and real wages would rise—had come true. "We are not done yet," he added, outlining priorities such as healthcare reform, education improvements, and affordable housing for young families.

Fiala highlighted the government's achievements in 2023, including adopting pension reforms and curbing inflation. However, he acknowledged that while prices had stopped rising rapidly, they might not return to pre-Covid levels. He emphasized the need for continued real wage growth through responsible investments in infrastructure and energy development.

The prime minister praised Czech solidarity, citing public responses to crises such as the September floods and the ongoing war in Ukraine. "Czechs have not hesitated to help those in need," he said.

Opposition leaders criticized Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s Christmas speech, accusing him of labeling legitimate concerns as fearmongering. ANO Vice-Chair Karel Havlíček likened Fiala’s optimism to “the captain of the Titanic,” arguing the government ignores critical issues like economic stagnation and delayed reforms.

Critics, including former finance minister and ANO-party deputy Alena Schillerová, see the speech as the start of an election campaign designed to deflect from unresolved challenges, including stalled progress on key policies and argue that addressing these issues is essential for restoring public trust and confidence.

Zdeněk Hřib, chairman of the opposition Pirates, told ČTK that the Czech economy is stagnating and urgently needs support. He criticized Prime Minister Fiala for highlighting plans to improve education and affordable housing while failing to advance relevant bills already drafted during the Pirates' time in government.

"I expect us to really stop just standing still. There are still important steps that can be delivered with a little effort," he said.