Bělobrádek apologises for VAT confusion

Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Bělobrádek apologised on Wednesday for creating apparent confusion by maintaining that leaders of the ruling coalition of the Social Democrats, ANO, and his own party, the Christian Democrats, had agreed on the lowering of VAT on draught beer and basic foodstuffs. He corrected information made public by saying that the matter in fact had not yet been approved. The idea being floated is that the VAT on beer on tap and basic food items could be lowered from 21 to 15 percent next year, and dropped to ten the year after. Fellow party leaders Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and ANO’s Andrej Babiš said they were not aware of any agreement after details were released by Agriculture Minister Marian Jurečka, a member of the Christian Democrats.