Czech residents affected by coronavirus crisis should be paid 15,000 crowns, says ODS leader

Prague, March 19 (CTK) – The government should pay 15,000 crowns to all people affected by the current crisis caused by the spread of the novel coronavirus, Petr Fiala, the leader of Czech opposition Civic Democratic Party (ODS), told journalists today.

The party wants to discuss the economic measures with the government comprised of Prime Minister Andrej Babis’s ANO and the Social Democrats, Fiala said.

The government will discuss support to employment later this afternoon.

“The government must tell the truth and have a clear plan for the future. People are afraid of whether they will be able to pay their rents and mortgages. This is why we want to introduce rapid help to all, such as 15,000 crowns of support for all those affected by the current crisis,” Fiala said.

Under the timetable, the government and the opposition had drafted after their first meeting on Tuesday, party leaders are to have a video conference with Prime Minister Andrej Babis next Tuesday.

At the beginning of the week, the ODS unveiled its own measures.

The ODS is proposing the postponed payment of compulsory contributions to the health and social systems and a temporary ban on sending dividends abroad.

The ODS will demand the postponement of the health and social insurance payments, the shortening of the deadline for the state giving back overpayments and the postponement of the final waves of the EET (electronic registration of sales).

The ODS also wants the state to take over the payment of the sick leave to the people in quarantine from companies. The sick pay is to be 100 percent of the relevant pay base.

The Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) have asked the European Commission not to impose sanctions over the carbon dioxide limits released by newly produced cars.

The sanctions may affect employment in the situation in which Europe will be facing the economic slowdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, the party said.