Finance Minister told to add 700 million crowns to budget

Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek was sent back to the drawing board with his draft 2009 budget on Wednesday, when MPs told him to add an additional 700 million crowns (40.1 million USD) to the coffers, to be generated by the sale of government assets. According to Mr Kalousek, the sale of ministry property will not help reduce next year’s predicted budget deficit of 38.1 billion crowns (2.2 billion USD), as funds raised will now be spent in other areas. Mr Kalousek said that he would review the Regional Development and Education Ministries’ budgets in light of the revenue generated by the sales. He added that he expected the government to approve next year’s budget within the next fortnight.