Archive: Domestic affairs | Political parties Political parties
Parties begin outlining tax plans ahead of election year
The ruling Civic Democrats have, for the first time since forming the
current coalition, begun to change tack on austerity. The once dominant
right-of-centre party, which has taken a hammering in opinion polls, wants
to lower taxes for employed pensioners as well as offer new tax write-offs
for companies. The plan, however, puts the party at odds with coalition
members TOP 09, in charge of the Finance Ministry. More
Civic Democrats issue new policy document in bid to stem loss of support
While their 22 percent showing in the last parliamentary elections was
enough to put the Civic Democrats at the head of a coalition government, it
was still their worst result ever. Today things look even grimmer for the
long-term dominant force on the Czech right, with one recent poll
suggesting their support stands at a meagre 9 percent. With parliamentary,
Senate, European and local elections all due next year, Petr Nečas’s
party are now trying to fight back, on Monday launching a policy document
targeting small business people. But can the Civic Democrats’ new
strategy help revive their fortunes? That’s a question I put to
journalist and political analyst Jindřich Šídlo. More
Charmed by Zeman, Social Democrats drop Dienstbier from leadership
The Social Democrats chose a new leadership at a closely-watched congress
at the weekend. The conference re-elected Bohuslav Sobotka as chairman to
lead the country’s main opposition party into next year’s general
election, which many expect them to win. But the congress also showed that
the road to power may not be smooth. More
Civic Democrat chairman on regional tour to drum up support from local leaders
The prime minister has begun to take aim at his party’s flagging fortunes
which have been on a marked downturn since last year’s regional and
senate elections. Prime minister and Civic Democrat leader Petr Nečas was
in Pardubice on Monday, one stop on his regional tour aimed at boosting
support among local leaders. More
Czechs protest on anniversary of 1948 communist coup as party gains ground
Monday marks the 65th anniversary of the communist putsch of 1948 which for
the next four decades turned Czechoslovakia into a totalitarian state and a
satellite of the Soviet Union. The anniversary is being commemorated by a
series of events, warning against the Communists’ growing support in the
society. More
Government moves to cement church restitution deal
On Friday, the Czech government moved to cement a deal on church
restitutions that the opposition Social Democrats are challenging at the
Constitutional Court. Prime Minister Petr Nečas and representatives of 16
churches signed bilateral agreements under which the state will pay them
financial compensation to the tune of 59 billion crowns over a period of 30
years. More
Social Democrats lodge constitutional complaint against church restitution law
The opposition Social Democrats have lodged a constitutional complaint
against the law on church restitutions in a last-ditch attempt to scupper
an agreement that continues to divide Czech society. Their decision to
challenge the law is perfectly legitimate, but some of the arguments behind
it have raised eyebrows. More
Bill curbing anonymous shares faces legislative hurdle
The Czech Republic is one of three countries in the world that allows
companies to issue anonymous bearer shares which has long been considered a
major hurdle in the fight against corruption. Czech lawmakers have now
moved to end the practice – but draft legislation that would reveal
bearer shares’ owners was stalled in the lower house this week when it
ran into subtle opposition by a group of Civic Democrat deputies. MV has
the details. More
Lower house makes umpteenth attempt to abolish lawmakers’ life-long immunity from prosecution
The lower house of Parliament on Wednesday approved a bill which would
abolish lawmakers’ lifelong immunity from prosecution. Under the present
amendment deputies and senators would only have immunity for the duration
of their mandate, unless their peers vote to strip them of it. Although the
bill’s approval is seen as a step in the right direction, its fate in the
Senate is far from certain. More
President-elect gets down to business
President-elect Miloš Zeman on Tuesday launched a series of high-level
meetings with the country’s political leaders. The talks are intended to
set the framework for future cooperation and heal the rifts of a ruthless
election campaign. More
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