SPD is against rapid adoption of asylum amendment, but will not block later negotiations

The opposition Freedom and Direct Democracy party (SPD) is against the rapid adoption of the government's migration and asylum amendment, and wants to scrutinise its details, but does not plan to block the discussion of the amendment in the next phase. SPD chairman Tomio Okamura reported this at Tuesday’s press conference before the meeting of the Chamber of Deputies.

Interior Minister Vít Rakušan is expected to discuss the amendment with representatives of the opposition Pirates party on Tuesday afternoon. The government approved the amendment in the form of a parliamentary proposal at the beginning of April, and the lower house is due to start discussing it on Wednesday. Prime Minister Fiala has previously said that the law will bring faster deportation of illegally resident foreigners, stricter checks on the residence of asylum seekers, expanded security and health screening, accelerated court proceedings and reduced social standards for asylum seekers.