Czech FinMin sacks deputy Janota after criticism

PRAGUE, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Czech Finance Minister Vlastimil Tlusty has sacked Eduard Janota, his deputy for budgets, amid a controversy over advertisements warning citizens about the public debt, Janota told Reuters on Friday.

Tlusty, who was named minister earlier this month, was upset with criticism from Janota over advertisements that ran in local newspapers this week warning the country's public debt was higher than EU calculations.

In the ads, Tlusty said that including state guarantees, environmental indemnities, and risks associated with several arbitration cases the Czech Republic faces, the debt is 1.3 trillion crowns, and not 901 billion crowns ($40.37 billion) as calculated by the European Union.

Janota was concerned that Tlusty's ads overstated the size of the debt and risked harming the country's interests.

"Yes, I can confirm I have been sacked," Janota said. He gave no further comment.

Janota was a long-standing fixture at the ministry, having joined it in 1978. In 1992 he took charge of the ministry's budget department, and in 1999 became a deputy minister.

Janota was known in the international investment community for his candor and deep knowledge on Czech financial issues.

((Reporting by Alan Crosby; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477)) ($1=22.32 Czech Crown)

Keywords: ECONOMY CZECH MINISTER