Instead he introduced "stealth" tax increases and tough spending curbs.
IN RECENT years Brazil's government has been able to avoid tough spending choices.
But the Warthog is "very old", he also says, and tough spending decisions loom.
During the campaign, Mr. Zeman linked Mr. Schwarzenberg to unpopular austerity measures, including tough spending cuts.
"They may talk about tough spending rounds for the future but right now they are not doing anything about it".
Reining in the country's burgeoning budget deficit with tough spending cuts are at the top of the agenda.
For consumers who have to make tough spending choices, trade-in promotions come down to getting the best deal possible.
On arriving in office, Brown took the controversial decision to stick to the tough spending limits inherited from the Conservatives.
Lies about its public finances instilled the belief, particularly in Germany, that the euro's problem was excessive debt, and the solution was tough spending cuts.
With prices for oil exports falling, the government will find it hard to meet next year's fiscal targets negotiated with the IMF without tough spending cuts.
The plan, says the majority whip, Tom DeLay, is to pass a series of tough spending bills that the president will veto.
