Lower house approves state budget for 2014

The lower house of Czech Parliament on Thursday approved the state budget for next year. The budget projects a deficit of 112 billion crowns, 12 billion more than this year. The deficit is not expected to exceed 3 percent of the country’s GDP. The budget, put forth by the outgoing interim Czech government, was backed by 109 MPs of the emerging coalition while centre-right Civic Democrats and TOP 09 deputies voted against. MPs of the Communist and Dawn parties abstained from the vote. The budget bill is now to be signed into law by the president.