Justice Ministry entrusted with deciding presidential pardons

President Miloš Zeman has entrusted the country's Justice Ministry with the right to decide on presidential pardons expect for exceptional cases, (applicants suffering from incurable disease or filing on humanitarian grounds). Outgoing Justice Minister Marie Benešová confirmed the ministry would take over in the role and would pass certain cases on to the head-of-state. The move will require the creation of new posts at the ministry to be discussed on Monday. Mr Zeman pledged to give up pardons soon after he was elected, calling them a "monarchistic hold-over".

Author: Jan Velinger