Government may include ideas of rebel MP in reform package

Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek says the government is considering including some of the ideas of rebel Civic Democrat MP Vlastimil Tlusty in a major package of tax and social welfare reforms. Mr Tlusty, briefly finance minister in a previous government, has been threatening to vote against the bill. After otherwise inconclusive talks on Sunday, the prime minister said Mr Tlusty had not only explained his objections, but suggested how they could be resolved. However, Mr Topolanek said the cabinet would not compromise on the issue of the public finance deficit.

Meanwhile, Mr Tlusty is planning to put forward his own plan to reform the public finances on Thursday. The right-of-centre coalition needs his support for its reform bill to pass a vote in the lower house. Prime Minister Topolanek has staked the future of the government on the reforms. He says if the bill fails he will push for early elections.