Government approves draft 2010 budget

The government approved a draft budget for 2010 on Tuesday with a deficit of 163 billion crowns (9.4 billion USD). The deficit amounts to around 5.2 percent of GDP, economists have said. The original budget deficit was expected to be much higher until MPs approved a package of austerity measures in Parliament last week, raising some taxes and cutting state employees’ pay. The draft budget must now be submitted to Parliament for final approval. According to news agency ČTK, a vote on next year’s budget could take place any time after December 9.