Social Democrats unveil anti-crisis measures at pre-election conference

The Social Democrats have pledged to fight the economic crisis by boosting infrastructure and social spending if they take power after this October’s general elections, the party said after a pre-election conference on Saturday. In their platform for this autumn’s elections, the Social Democrats said they would push for a stimulus package worth 1-1.5 percent of GDP with the aim of creating 100,000 jobs. The party said it would pay for the higher spending by scrapping a flat personal income tax and tapping the profits of state-owned firms, such as energy giant ČEZ. The Civic Democrats respond that the Social Democrats’ plans for higher spending are fiscally irresponsible.