Deficit for 2009 could reach 200 billion crowns

The country’s finance minister, Eduard Janota, has said that this year’s state budget deficit could go as high as 200 billion crowns, as a result of the economic crisis. He made the statement on Sunday on a debate programme on Czech TV, saying it was difficult to assess how matters will develop. He did point out that the size of the deficit could negatively influence the Czech Republic’s international rating. The 2009 budget was approved ahead of the crisis last November, proposing a deficit of 38.1 billion crowns, which was later raised to 52.2. At the end of November this year, the state was operating with the deficit already at 175 billion.