2009 budget sent to final reading

The Chamber of Deputies has sent the proposed 2009 budget to a final reading. During Wednesday’s lower house session, the minister of labour, Petr Necaš, announced a government plan to increase funding for public sector pay by CZK 2.7 billion. He said most of that money would go towards bonuses. Meanwhile, several MPs tabled proposals to earmark funding for institutions and projects in their constituencies.

The minister of finance, Miroslav Kalousek, has proposed a budget deficit of CZK 38 billion. The left wing opposition parties have said they will vote against, while some rebel deputies from the governing Civic Democrats have also expressed reservations.