Newly-elected MPs hold first meeting in lower house

The Czech Republic's newly-elected MPs have held their first meeting in the Chamber of Deputies. Tuesday afternoon's program for the new MPs consisted mainly of nominating candidates for senior posts in the lower house. MPs also decided that Civic Democrat, Petr Tluchor, will head the Chamber of Deputies' election committee, which consists of 12 members and must be formed before Thursday's key vote on the chair and deputy chairs of the lower house.

Tuesday's meeting in the lower house was also important as the new MPs were handed confirmation of their electoral mandates. Most MPs arrived to pick-up their documents, though some were missing—among them Jiri Paroubek, David Rath, and Zdenek Skromach, all senior members of the Social Democratic Party.