Lower house overrides president’s veto of civil service law to enable more political appointments

The ruling parties used their majority in the lower house of Parliament to override the president’s veto of an amendment to the civil service law which will open the way to an unlimited number of politically appointed deputy ministers. MPs for the ruling parties defended the bill, arguing that ministers should have the right to appoint a team that would implement a political program for which they are ultimately accountable. President Zeman and the opposition parties claim the amendment goes against long-term efforts to de-politicize the civil service.