Czech MPs approve government austerity package

The lower house of the Czech parliament has approved the government's proposed austerity package by 108 votes for to 86 against. The opposition is threatening to take the matter to the Constitutional Court.

The measures have been fiercely contested by the opposition from the beginning, with a debate over the package still taking place on Wednesday afternoon during the bill's third reading.

According to the coalition government, the austerity package, which includes an overhaul of the pension system, will considerably help reduce the state budget deficit.