Government postpones debate on state budget for 2016

The government has postponed a debate on the 2016 state budget which was scheduled to take place at its session on Wednesday. The Finance Minister and ANO leader Andrej Babiš said prior to the meeting that he regarded the state budget ceiling of 70 billion crowns as an optimal one and did not plan to make any major changes. However, the finance minister will have to negotiate with the heads of individual ministries, in particular the Ministry for Regional Affairs as well as the interior and culture ministries, who are asking for increased funds for their resorts. President Zeman, who attended Wednesday’s meeting, said he was ready to sign the budget if the proposed deficit is maintained. The final version of the state deficit for 2016 should be approved by the end of September.