Head of Senate's expatriate committee resigns

Independent senator Jana Jurencakova has resigned as the head of the Senate Committee for Expatriates. Ms Jurencakova had been criticized by some Czech and Slovak expatriate associations in Switzerland and Canada. She joined the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia in 1988; for most Czech emigrants, it was communist rule that made them leave the country and settle elsewhere. Ms Jurencakova will be replaced at the head of the committee by fellow independent senator Josef Zoser. The change is expected to be approved at the next session of the Czech Parliament's upper chamber on September 20.