Lower house approves amendment to Lobbying Act

The Czech lower house on Wednesday approved an amendment to the law to tighten the regulations on lobbying and introduce a register of lobbyists and officials lobbied. The bill clearly stipulates who can engage in lobbying and under what conditions, and specifies which public office holders can be lobbied. The proposed amendment would remove assistants to MPs and senators from the list of those who can be lobbied, as well as members of government advisory bodies other than the Legislative Council of the Government. The proposed legislation, which should come into force in the middle of this year, aims to reduce corruption, potential conflict of interest and cronyism.