PM says state maternity allowances will likely be lifted

Prime Minister Jan Fischer left today’s meeting of the government saying the budget cut on state maternity allowances will likely be lifted. Parliamentarians voted at the end of September to temporarily strike the allowances by one-fifth as part of an austerity package; the Social Democrats, Communists, and Christian Democrats are now in favour of reinstating the full amount. That majority will nonetheless likely have to pass the reinstatement twice, as President Klaus has promised to veto any bill increasing the budget deficit. Restoring the full amount of maternal allowances would increase the budget by roughly 1.5 billion crowns.