BRATISLAVA, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Slovakia may post a slightly higher-than-planned fiscal deficit next year due to the global economic downturn, Prime Minister Robert Fico was quoted on Friday as saying.
The 2009 state budget draft, now in the parliament for final debate and approval, sees an overall fiscal gap equal to 1.7 percent of GDP and assumes 6.5 percent economic growth next year, a forecast made before the financial markets turmoil.
"One of options to cope with the crisis is a slightly higher deficit alongside cuts in expenditure at some ministries," the Web site of daily SME quoted Fico as saying.
Fico said his government would not touch its planned social packages and programmes. He gave no details on the possible deficit growth.
The finance ministry cut its economic growth forecast for next year to 4.6 percent last week.
Fico's government, which came to power after 2006 elections, has said a slowdown would cut 2009 budget revenue by some 10 billion crowns ($417.2 million), adding it was ready to cut costs if necessary.
Slovakia, which will become the 16th member of the euro zone in January, has been largely shielded from the direct impact of the crisis and the EU has singled it out as one of the few economies that will ride out the crisis relatively well.
But the small and open economy, relying heavily on exports of cars and electronics goods, is exposed to a weakening of demand in its main export markets in the West as consumers curtail spending.
Preliminary data showed the Slovak economy grew 7.1 percent in the third quarter, a high pace relative to its neighbours but the weakest number in almost three years, and analysts saw a more significant slowdown next year due to the negative external environment
(Reporting by Martin Santa; editing by David Stamp)