Senators split on proposed ban on Nazi and Communist symbols

The Czech Senate has approved a first draft of an amendment which would ban the use and display of both Nazi and Communist symbols. Over the next couple of months, the matter will be discussed further by the Senate, and then, if approved, by the lower house. Senators from the leading Civic Democratic Party are split over the amendment. Critics call the proposal undemocratic and unconstitutional. The proposal is to outlaw the logos of extremist groups, such as the swastika and the hammer and sickle. But the Czech Communist Party, whose logo may also be affected by the amendment, has said in response that it is a democratic party, and not an extremist group. A similar amendment was proposed under the last government, but it was not approved in the lower house.