Opposition to table no-confidence vote over amnesty

The opposition Social Democrats announced on Thursday that they would table a vote of no-confidence in the Czech government in connection with the president’s amnesty, which had prior approval from the prime minister, Petr Nečas. The party expressed opposition to both the form and extent of the amnesty, describing it as unacceptable, unjust and inflammatory. Chairman Bohuslav Sobotka said it freed those involved in large financial scandals in the 1990s, including the asset-stripping of banks and companies and corruption linked to privatisation.