Communists fail to push through law on national referenda

The Communists have failed to win support for a bill on national referenda in the lower house of parliament. The bill needed the support of 120 deputies in the 200-seat chamber as this is the majority needed for a bill like the proposed national referendum law, whose enactment requires an amendment to the constitution. The Communists' proposal was rejected in the first reading on Wednesday when all 100 governing coalition MPs voted against. If it were passed Czechs would have been able to hold a referendum on whether or not a US radar station should be built on Czech territory.

The Green Party, which generally supports the enactment of a national referendum law, is working on its own proposal.