Coalition government works to finalize draft budget for 2005

The Czech coalition government is finalizing the details of the draft state budget for 2005. After coalition leaders agreed to reduce the budget deficit by ten billion crowns last week, Cabinet ministers are now debating where the money should be saved. Several ministries have offered to make budget cuts but the Cabinet is still about two and a half billion crowns short of the target figure. Christian Democratic Party leader Miroslav Kalousek has urged ministers to consider further reducing the number of state employees. The draft budget proposal is expected to be ready by Tuesday.