Coalition parties will support pension reform in first reading

All three parties in the centre-right government have promised to support the pension reform bill in its first reading in the lower house. The draft, proposed by Civic Democrat Labour Minister Petr Necas, outlines radical changes to the current pay-as-you-go system, including a higher retirement age for both men and women and a longer period of mandatory insurance. Although in earlier years there was general consensus that the pension reform should receive support across the political spectrum, now Minister Necas says that the need for reform is so pressing he wants it approved with or without support from the opposition parties. The Greens and Christian Democrats have both promised to support it in its first reading in the lower house.