Finance minister: 2017 gap in public spending should be 60 billion crowns

The gap in public finances in 2017 should be 60 billion crowns, Finance Minister Andrej Babiš said in a debate on commercial TV Prima on Sunday. The minister indicated that meeting that target would not be easy, saying he expected to come under considerable pressure from individual cabinet members. Babis said he was counting on an increase in pensions, more funds for sports and emphasized the need for investment projects which he said would be given priority. The 2015 deficit in public finances was 62.8 billion, which is 37.2 billion less than projected.