Lower house speaker: Istanbul Convention vote unwise at present

The speaker of the Czech lower house, Markéta Pekarová Adamová of TOP 09, says it would be irresponsible to hold a vote on ratifying the Istanbul Convention at present, given the unclear level of support for it among MPs.

She said that this risked a definitive Czech rejection of the accord, which is designed to protect women.

Pirate Party leader Ivan Bartoš has called for a vote on the matter in the Chamber of Deputies. The Czech Senate in January voted against ratifying the convention, which the country has already signed up to.