MPs approve outline budget for 2022

The Czech lower house on Friday evening approved an outline state budget for this year which foresees a deficit of CZK 280 billion. The previous government had proposed a deficit almost CZK 100 billion higher.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura say the five-party coalition’s first budget is cost-saving and anti-inflationary.

Speaking at the Chamber of Deputies, President Miloš Zeman said it was in fact pro-inflationary, but said he would not veto it.

The state has been functioning on a provisional budget since the start of the year. The new budget should be approved by mid-March.