Coalition MPs will not support proposed “muzzle” law

Coalition MPs and Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blažek have distanced themselves from a proposal by opposition MP Radek Vondráček from the ANO party that would make it difficult for the media to reveal the identities of suspects and prosecuted persons in high-profile cases, for instance politicians and public officials. In early April, the proposal was supported by all MPs of the Constitutional Law Committee, with the exception of Jakub Michálek from the Pirate Party. However, after growing criticism from constitutional lawyers, the proposed bill is losing support.

‘The proposal will not pass its third reading in the lower house and I myself will not vote for it,’ Minister Blažek told the ctk news agency. He said that while he was critical of various details from pre-trial criminal proceedings appearing in the media this proposal is not the right way to address the problem.