Lower house passes bill calling early elections by October 9-10

The Czech Chamber of Deputies passed a constitutional bill on Wednesday under which early elections will be held on October 9-10 at the latest. The bill also ordains that the current caretaker government will be dissolved by mid-October at the latest. The legislation, which was supported by 172 of the 189 deputies present, now goes to the Senate for final approval. As it is a constitutional law, it cannot be vetoed by Czech President Václav Klaus. The bill had the support of the two biggest parties in the lower house, the Civic Democrats and Social Democrats and, as these two parties also have a clear majority in the Senate, it is expected that the bill will be passed there too.