He stepped in for Schillerová in the lion's den. The opposition "cooked" an official on bank taxation

Recent discussions in the Czech Republic's budget committee revealed confusion regarding the introduction of additional sectoral taxes, particularly on banks and telecommunications. The committee was set to address a special tax on refineries, but members expressed concerns over potential new taxes. Vice Prime Minister Karel Havlíček initially suggested that the coalition might consider higher taxes on banks, but later stated that the government was not contemplating additional sectoral taxes. This inconsistency prompted opposition members to seek clarification during the committee meeting, where Finance Minister Alena Schillerová was absent. The debate highlighted worries about the impact of sectoral taxes on competitiveness and investment in the Czech economy, with industry leaders warning against such measures.