Opposition MPs’ filibustering prevents debate in lower house

Opposition deputies blocked a debate on reducing health care payments for state insurance payees on Tuesday and Wednesday. Due to filibustering in the lower house MPs did not get to discuss any of six scheduled points. It took five hours to even decide on the agenda of the session, which by noon on Wednesday had been sitting for a total of 22 hours.

To speed up matters deputies without special rights to speak were limited to a maximum of 10 minutes on the floor.

Opposition leader Andrej Babiš of ANO spoke for three hours and 15 minutes in one go during the session, which was paused for four hours during the night.