Ministers suggest presidential office budget cut over pardon

Some members of the Czech cabinet say the government should consider cutting the budget of the Office of the President following a controversial pardon. On Tuesday Miloš Zeman’s team said he had pardoned a forestry chief at the Lány presidential retreat who had been sentenced to three years and fined CZK 1.8 million for corruption, a move which has been widely condemned.

The minister for science, Helena Langšádlová, said reducing the president’s budget should be discussed as Mr. Zeman had abuse his office.

Transport minister Martin Kupka said the head of state had spat in the face of society and that the government should weigh its response carefully.