Opposition parties submit signatures for no-confidence session

The opposition Civic Democrats, Mayors and Independents, Pirates, Christian Democrats and TOP 09 have collected the signatures of all 92 of their MPs for a motion to convene a lower-house session on a vote of no confidence in the government.

They want the extraordinary session, due to take place on Tuesday, to address next year's budget, which envisages the second-highest deficit in the Czech Republic's history, as well as Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's unresolved conflict of interest and what they describe as government attacks on constitutional institutions, the courts, the non-profit sector and the media.

A minimum of 101 of the 200 MPs would have to support the motion for the government to lose confidence. The governing coalition holds 108 seats. The vote will take place shortly before the October municipal and Senate elections.