Klaus announces partial amnesty

In his final new year’s address as president Václav Klaus has announced that a partial amnesty will come into effect on 2 January. People who had previously received legally binding prison sentences of one year or less will be released from jail. Prisoners who are older than 75 years old as of 1 January and who are serving sentences of no more than 10 years will also be released. The amnesty also lowers sentences for a number of other categories.

In the televised speech, President Klaus, whose second and last term will end in March, spoke about the downbeat and apathetic public mood in the Czech Republic, which is exacerbated by political squabbles, inadequate political opposition and the European debt crisis. He also called on the public to return to old values and traditions.