Senators challenge law allowing government to cap fuel prices

A group of Czech senators has asked the Constitutional Court to strike down legislation allowing the government to cap petrol and diesel prices. Represented by Tomáš Goláň of the Civic Democrats (ODS), they argue the law grants excessively broad powers and fails to protect businesses against prolonged losses. It allows price caps lasting up to a year, with repeated extensions. The senators accept that emergency price regulation can be justified but warn uniform caps could threaten smaller retailers’ survival. They also question safeguards for judicial review and have requested priority consideration. The court received the challenge on October 5.