Czech Finance Minister insists on 70 billion crown budget deficit in 2016

Finance Minister Andrej Babiš says the gap in public spending should not exceed 70 billion crowns in 2016. He made the announcement on Wednesday in the lower house of the Czech Parliament. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said this was unacceptable for the ruling Social Democrats, adding that the finance minister had failed to discuss the proposal prior to presenting it in the lower house. The prime minister pointed out that the government had a commitment to increase defence spending and noted that a 70 billion crown deficit would mean freezing the salaries of public employees.