MPs block Prague airport privatisation

In related news, Czech MPs approved on Wednesday a bill preventing the government from privatising Prague’s Ruzyně Airport. The bill, proposed by Social Democrats, also received support from Communist and Christian Demcorat MPs. The Social Democrats are concerned that selling the airport at a time of the economic crisis would result in a loss for the Czech state. Plans for the privatisation of Ruzyně Airport were approved last year by the cabinet of PM Mirek Topolánek.

The bill has yet to be approved by the Senate and signed into law by President Klaus. Observers believe however that Parliament’s upper chamber, with its majority of right-wing senators, will return the bill to the Chamber of Deputies.