Communists look set to back extension of state of emergency

The leadership of the Communists say they will recommend that the party’s MPs vote for extending the current state of emergency in a vote set for Friday. The minority coalition of ANO and the Social Democrats needs some opposition backing to push through an extension to this legislation, on which many of its restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus are based.

The government is seeking a 30-day extension that would run until April 27 but Communist deputy leader Petr Šimůnek said it was not clear whether its MPs would back prolonging it for so long. Other opposition groupings are also cool on the idea.