Government debating direct presidential elections

The government is debating a possible change of legislation which would allow for direct presidential elections. The three parties of the governing coalition are not yet in complete agreement on what such a change of legislation should entail and whether a president elected in a direct ballot should have more powers. The Christian Democrats are against changing the powers of the president, while the Civic Democrats would like to see them broadened. The Justice Ministry has been asked to draft a proposal. Opinion surveys suggest that 90 percent of Czechs would like to elect their head of state in a direct vote.