Babis’s Immunity on Agenda of 2nd Session of Czech Parliament

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis Speaks in Chamber of Deputies

Prague, Nov 24 (CTK) – The next session of the new Czech Chamber of Deputies that arose from the October parliamentary elections will open on Tuesday, November 28.

 

The constituent session started on Monday and ended today. The MPs of the nine parties that entered parliament elected their new chairman, Radek Vondracek (ANO), and four of five deputy heads this week.

 

The first point on the planned agenda of the next lower house session is the election of the fifth deputy head of the house. Civic Democrat (ODS) leader Petr Fiala, the only one of the five candidates who failed to be elected today, is going to run for the post again. Further candidates may be nominated by Monday.

 

The proposed agenda also includes the police request for the release of ANO chairman and probable next prime minister Andrej Babis and ANO deputy chairman Jaroslav Faltynek for criminal prosecution on suspicion of an EU subsidy fraud.

 

According to the lower house’s order of procedure, the MPs must decide whether to strip Babis and Faltynek of their immunity or not at the next session. The lower house received the police request on Tuesday.

 

At its second session, the Chamber of Deputies will set up its permanent commissions, including those supervising the operation of the intelligence services. It will also confirm the newly elected heads of its committees.

 

Besides, the second session is to discuss the time schedule for the debate on the 2018 state budget and the confirmation of the contributions that political parties will receive from the state to cover the costs of their election campaigns.

 

The lower house needs to pass the state budget bill by the end of the year, otherwise the country would face a stop-gap budget.