What is really in the pension reform? We bring criticism and defense of all twelve key changes | Orientation

The public debate was dominated by anger at Andrej Babiš, who is said to be throwing a pitchfork into national consensus. This is a triple misunderstanding of what is happening around pensions.

Firstly, even the president did not want the ANO movement to add its votes to the government’s proposal; secondly, no such thing is needed; thirdly, it is political nonsense to seek a global consensus two months before elections. (We formulated these arguments in detail here and here). If the reform starts to “improve” after two and a half years of negotiations, there is a risk that nothing will be passed in the end.

The upcoming changes are not a revolutionary change that would in any way change the principles of providing for old age in this country. It just changes the parameters of the existing first pillar. The state will continue to tax workers on behalf of social insurance. The pensions of current senior citizens will continue to be paid from this money.

This redistribution will continue to be subject to the will of Parliament, which, if it pleases, will be able to move our pension according to its haphazard two-headed wisdom.

At the same time, however, this is only the second attempt to avert financial armageddon sometime around 2050. And the first attempt that has – paradoxically thanks to its low ambition – a chance to survive the next election period. And without a doubt, it will be the biggest and actually the only legacy that Petr Fiala’s cabinet will leave behind.