(Ondřej Schneider) The vice-premier Pavel Mertlík announced that the government plans to stick to its target of the state budget deficit of CZK 31bn. Considering that the economic development is significantly worse than the government had expected when presenting the budget, the vice-premier's pledge is very courageous. We expect the central government deficit rather around CZK 45bn. Moreover,deficits in other off-budgetary funds might increase the total CR's deficit of public finances to as high as CZK 75-80bn in 1999.