Opposition leader lays conditions for support of Czech army’s foreign missions bill

The head of the opposition Social Democrats Jiří Paroubek said on Monday that his party would only support a bill on the Czech army’s foreign missions in 2009 in exchange for the abolition of health care fees. The ruling coalition, which no longer has a majority in the lower house of the Czech Parliament, failed to push through the bill in December, thereby leaving the future mandate of Czech forces in Afghanistan and Kosovo uncertain. The government used its constitutional right to prolong the troops’ mandate by two months, but they will have to be brought back if no agreement is reached by the end of February. The removal of health care fees has been a major issue of controversy between the coalition and opposition ever since they were introduced last year as part of the government’s health care reform.

Author: Jan Richter