Prime Minister criticizes lower house parties for lack of cooperation

Prime Minister Fischer told journalists on Monday that the government could not be held responsible for the lack of cooperation between parties in the lower house. Mr. Fischer added that the government would do everything it could to keep the state budget deficit below the 5.3 percent threshold. He also pointed out that the Czech Republic will most likely face harsh criticism from Brussels. The state budget deficit was expected to be 163 billion Czech crowns but MPs voted against proposed cuts in social services, state employees’ salaries and the agriculture sector, bringing it up to 5.7 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. To keep the state budget deficit below the 5.3 percent threshold, the government will cut spending of several ministries by three to five percent.