Czech gov't set to survive confidence vote

[November 07, 2012]  PRAGUE (AP) -- The Czech Republic's government is set to survive a confidence vote this week after rebel lawmakers in the conservative party of Prime Minister Petr Necas resigned.

In September, Parliament rejected an austerity package that includes an increase in the taxes on retail sales and high incomes. Six lawmakers from Necas' party voted against the package, saying the measures were against their party's values.

Necas resubmitted the measures, linking their passage to a vote of confidence in the government. If the vote, scheduled for Wednesday, also fails, the coalition government will fall.

The rebel lawmakers said Tuesday that three of them will resign from Parliament. Without their opposition, the austerity package is expected to pass the vote.

The measures aim to bring the budget deficit below 3 percent of GDP.

[Associated Press]

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