Senate chair: Reinstating state of emergency is unconstitutional

The Speaker of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil says that reinstating a state of emergency in the country against the will of the lower house is unconstitutional.

In an open letter to the government, Mr. Vystrčil said that by going against a vote in the lower house –albeit at the request of the country’s governors – the government is effectively negating the role of the Chamber of Deputies.

He said this would only be possible after governors declared a “state of danger” in the regions and this legal order was found to be inadequate in dealing with the crisis.

Constitutional lawyers are divided on the matter.