Government gives PM authority over flights of top officials

The Czech government has scrapped a more than 25-year-old resolution that prevented restrictions on flights by the president and the heads of parliament’s two chambers. Under the new rules, the prime minister will decide on priorities when organising official air transport for constitutional officials. Flights for the president, the speaker of the lower house and the Senate president will still be provided free of charge when connected to their duties. The issue gained attention last week after Senate President Miloš Vystrčil (Civic Democratic Party) faced criticism from coalition politicians for flying to Italy while repatriation flights were being organised for Czechs stranded in the Middle East.