Czech President backs finance minister to stay on office

Czech President Václav Klaus has backed Finance Minister Eduard Janota to stay in the government during a meeting between the two men on Friday. Mr Janota is weighing up whether to remain after his 2010 budget package was overhauled by left-wing amendments on Wednesday. Social Democrats and Communists took the lead in pushing through fresh spending of around 12 billion crowns. This would push next year’s budget deficit up to 175 billion crowns or around 5.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product if all the spending is covered by extra borrowing and not taken from other areas. Social Democrats say the originally planned deficit of around 163 billion crowns can be safeguarded.

Mr Janota said he will make a final decision about his government future after a meeting with Prime Minister Jan Fischer on Monday. President Klaus has also condemned the budget changes, saying that they exacerbated the problematic state of public finances. Mr Janota said after the meeting there was no discussion over whether the president would refuse to approve next year’s budget.

Author: Chris Johnstone