Tlusty says he will support reform package in its first reading

Vlastimil Tlusty, the senior Civic Democrat deputy who has led opposition to the government-proposed financial reform package, said on Monday he was prepared to support the bill in its first reading in Parliament. Mr. Tlusty, a former finance minister, has repeatedly threatened to block the bill's passage through Parliament on the grounds that it is not radical enough. Four or five other Civic Democrat deputies have echoed this view, and the party leadership has exerted a lot of effort to convince them to support the bill, promising that this is merely the first stage of a much broader reform programme.