Lawmakers continue pension reform debate into the night, deal not on horizon

The Czech Chamber of Deputies continue discussing the government’s pension reform into the night on Thursday, after the coalition extended the parliamentary session but no deal seems to be emerging. This follows Wednesday’s proceedings, which ended at 10 p.m. based on a club agreement. Coalition leaders, like Christian Democrat Aleš Dufek, argue that the extended session will ensure the debate gets the necessary attention. Opposition MPs have dominated the early hours of Thursday's debate with brief speeches, focusing on generational care and maintaining dignified pensions. Labor Minister Marian Jurečka highlighted recent increases in care allowances and defended means-tested birth grants over universal ones.