Czech MPs approve budget with 310-billion-crown deficit

The lower house of the Czech parliament has approved the state budget for this year with a deficit of 310 billion crowns. It is the first budget drafted by the coalition government led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO). The proposal passed with 103 coalition votes against 88 from the opposition, ending a period in which the country had been operating under a provisional budget. During the final vote, lawmakers also approved several coalition-backed changes, including an additional 800 million crowns for sports infrastructure and smaller increases for youth organisations and the MEDEVAC humanitarian programme. The budget will now go to President Petr Pavel for signature.