Likely culture minister will not avoid cuts

The candidate for Minister of Culture, Jiří Besser of TOP 09, said Sunday that he would agree to across-the-board budget cuts that would apply to his portfolio. He also said that he would be able to find finances within the ministry and its institutions with the help of the finance minister. Speaking to Czech Television, Mr Besser said that the whole country cannot avoid budget cuts, and that the coalition was discussing ways to provide income for culture, including importing foreign work, exporting Czech work and preparing orderly grant systems. At the same time, he says he would like to strengthen the role of the Ministry of Culture.