Senators to debate possible treason charges against Czech president

A group of 27 senators have signed a petition calling for President Vaclav Klaus to be charged with high treason over the controversial amnesty he declared at the beginning of the year. The proposal to lodge a constitutional complaint against the president was initiated by senators Eliška Wagnerová and Miroslav Antl who claim Vaclav Klaus overstepped his mandate in declaring an amnesty that will, among others, halt the prosecution of all cases older than eight years. Many of these cases pertain to serious economic crime. The signature of 27 senators is a prerequisite to have the proposal discussed. Pushing it though would require gaining majority support in the upper chamber. The petition has likewise been signed by over 73,000 members of the public.