Czech lower house approves amendment to allow for early elections

Czech MPs have approved an amendment to the constitution that will make it possible to hold early general elections, most probably in early November. The move follows a decision by the Constitutional Court, which on Thursday upheld a complaint by MP Miloš Melčák against a one-off law passed in order to facilitate elections on October 9 and 10. The new amendment introduces a permanent change to the constitution that could be used whenever the lower house wishes to dissolve itself without going through lengthy procedures. It is expected to be approved by the Senate on Friday evening or on Saturday, and then to be signed into law by President Václav Klaus. Under a plan agreed by the main political parties, the Chamber of Deputies will dissolve itself on Tuesday and the president will call elections on November 6 and 7.

However, those plans could be scuppered by Mr Melčák. He hinted in the lower house on Friday that he could to go back to the Constitutional Court with the new amendment, once it enters into force.

The Czech Republic has had an interim government since May. There are concerns that a failure to form a new political government in the near future would have serious consequences for the country’s budget for next year; if a 2010 budget is not approved in time, a provisional budget without needed spending cuts would enter into force.