Czech PM to debate measures to reduce budget deficit

Czech Prime Minister Jan Fischer has said his cabinet is going to discuss measures to curb the projected 2010 state budget deficit in the coming days. In an interview for Saturday’s edition of the daily Právo, Mr Fischer said freezing pensions was one of possible options, despite Labour and Social Affairs Minister Petr Šimerka’s plan to raise pensions by two percent next year. Finance Minister Eduard Janota warned recently that the 2010 state budget deficit would reach an unprecedented 230 billion crowns (USD 12.92 billion). He has proposed cuts in spending and tax hikes to reduce the shortfall.