Rival parties would run up same budget deficit

The policy programmes of the two main rivals in May’s general elections, the Civic and Social Democrats, would lead to approximately the same public finance deficit, according to an analysis by the business daily Hospodarské noviny. The paper says that while the Social Democrats would achieve that result by generous social handouts, the Civic Democrats would be hampered by their promise not to raise taxes. Both would lower public spending by between 15 and 16 billion crowns. Two smaller newly-established parties, the right-wing TOP O9 and centrist Public Affairs Party would both do better, cutting the deficit by 50 and 19 billion crowns respectively.