State of emergency talks continue; school closures, compensation sticking points

The Czech government is continuing negotiations with most opposition parties towards extending the state of emergency until March 16 due to the coronavirus crisis. The lower house of Parliament is due to vote on the matter on Thursday.

Initial talks on Tuesday with the two opposition alliances, one comprising the Civic Democrats (ODS), Top 09 and Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL) and the other the Pirates and party of Independents and Mayors (STAN), failed.

Among other demands, some opposition members are calling for students to return to classrooms, for compensation to be expanded for businesses forced to close , for night curfews to be abolished and for restrictions on amateur sports and church services to be eased.

Deputy Prime Minister Jan Hamáček, who leads the Central Crisis Staff, said if MPs do not approve the extension, the government after February 14 will announce all possible measures against the spread of Covid-19 under the Public Health Protection regulations.