Government approves draft bill curbing presidential powers

Government approves draft bill curbing presidential powers The Czech government has approved a draft bill on curbing the powers of the country’s head-of-state, the Czech news agency reported on Wednesday. The changes include the Senate having to co-sign appointments to the board of the Czech National Bank and the government being solely responsible for Czech foreign policy. The draft legislation, criticised by the President and part of the opposition, also introduces a so-called sliding mandate, a practice under which a minister is replaced in the lower house during his term in office. If approved by both chambers of Parliament, the legislation will come into effect as of the beginning of next year. In reaction to the bill’s approval, President Miloš Zeman said he finds it ‘absurd’ that a directly elected head-of-state should have less power than president elected by parliament.

Author: Ruth Fraňková