Proposal on direct presidential through first reading in Senate

A proposal to open the path for direct presidential elections, submitted by independent senator Jan Horník, has passed in a first reading in the upper house. All but two senators present voted for Mr Horník's proposal. The issue will further be debated by senate committees in the autumn. The government bill on direct presidential elections is being worked out at the initiative of the Greens but so far the three coalition parties are not united in proposed changes. While the Christian Democrats want to preserve current presidential powers, the Civic Democrats are said to be in favour of extending them. Public surveys have repeatedly suggested that many among the public are in favour of changing the system. Currently, the country’s president is elected in a special joint session of both houses of parliament.