Amendment limiting pardons passes in first reading

The Chamber of Deputies backed an amendment by the opposition Social Democrats on Friday, which, if passed in a final reading, would require the prime minister’s counter-signature on presidential pardons. Social Democrat Lubomír Zaorálek has charged that the current system did not work and went against the principles of the parliamentary system. The ruling Civic Democrats, as well as other members of the government coalition such as Deputy Prime Minister Karolína Peake, came out against the amendment. Some, like former justice minister Jiří Pospíšil made clear they would be in favour of the abolition of pardons entirely. The bill will now be reviewed by the chamber’s Committee of Legal and Constitutional Affairs.