Draft 2009 budget approved on Monday

The Czech government has approved a draft state budget for 2009. After a cabinet meeting on Monday, Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek told reporters that next year’s budget would leave the state 38.1 billion crowns (2.34 billion USD) in the red. The proposed budget will now be sent to the Lower House for approval, though, with rebel MPs threatening to vote against the bill, it is not yet clear whether the coalition government will secure enough votes for the draft to be passed. In recent days, Deputy PM Jiří Čunek has said that government should step down if it fails to pass the budget bill.