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Former Czech diplomat Jan Havránek will represent aircraft engine maker PBS Aerospace in Washington. As the company’s new director for government relations and strategy, he will handle its relations with the US government, Congress, NATO and allied governments.

Havránek previously served as deputy Czech ambassador to the US and as a deputy defence minister. He said he wants to use his experience in defence policy and international cooperation to help PBS expand its role in US and allied defence programmes.

PBS Aerospace is the US subsidiary of Czech aircraft engine maker PBS Group. It has invested 20 million dollars in a production plant in Georgia and plans to invest another 90 million in expanding production of jet engines for drones and cruise missiles.

The Czech government plans to run a budget deficit of CZK 389 billion next year, Finance Minister Alena Schillerová said on Monday after a cabinet meeting. The proposed deficit would be the second-highest in the country’s history, after the CZK 419.7 billion deficit recorded in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The budget proposal expects revenue to rise by 3.3 percent to CZK 2.19 trillion, while spending would increase by 6.2 percent to CZK 2.58 trillion.

The government can still change the proposal before it is submitted to the Chamber of Deputies by the end of September. This year’s planned deficit is CZK 310 billion.

The Czech government is due to discuss the draft state budget for next year on Monday. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (ANO) will present changes made following negotiations with individual ministers. The Finance Ministry will then formally submit the proposal and publish the planned deficit. Schillerová has said the shortfall will be higher than this year’s planned 310 billion crowns but will remain below 400 billion. Once approved by the cabinet, the budget must be submitted to the lower house by the end of September. Ministers will also discuss changes to the Labour Code and a new law regulating platform work.

Nearly half of Czechs consider President Petr Pavel’s approach towards the government in recent months appropriate, according to a Kantar survey for Czech Television. Some 47 percent described his conduct as proportionate, while 34 percent thought he had been too active and 12 percent wanted him to take a stronger role. Relations between the president and government representatives, particularly from the Motorists party, have been strained in recent months. The poll also found that 44 percent believe the president should both support the government and oversee its work. Kantar surveyed around 1,000 people in August.