Prime minister presents proposals to buffer Czech economy from global financial crisis

Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek presented his plans to protect the Czech economy from the fall-out of the global financial crisis on Tuesday, a document which opposition MPs called too general and superficial. Mr Topolánek warned that while the Czech economy had remained relatively isolated from the financial crisis so far, the country’s exporters in particular were already beginning to feel the squeeze. In his blueprint, Mr Topolánek advocated a hastened implementation of proposed government reforms. He also urged MPs to pass the draft state budget for next year in its current state, and make alterations to the budget when parliament reconvenes in the new year. The opposition criticized the prime minister’s plans, with Communist MP Jiří Dolejš saying that neither employers nor unions had been consulted on the matter.