Government passes constructive vote of no confidence

The government on Wednesday also passed draft legislation introducing a so-called constructive vote of no-confidence. If approved by Parliament, the bill will impose stricter rules for ousting the cabinet in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence in that the opposition would have to announce the name of the next prime minister, and would have to gain the signatures of at least 50 deputies in support of the motion. In case the vote fails, a new attempt could only be staged in eight months’ time, or with the support of at least 80 MPs.

The bill has been criticized by the opposition; Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka dismissed the legislation as pointless and tailored to the needs of the current government.