PM considers coalition more united after filibuster

Prague, Nov 7 (CTK) - The Czech government coalition is more united after the six-day parliamentary battle that ended on Sunday night when the coalition pushed through a package of major reforms despite the protests of the leftist opposition, Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) said during the night.

The package includes health care, welfare and pension reform bills as well as austerity social measures and changes to the Labour Code and VAT.

The opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) wanted to postpone the passage of the reform bills by filibustering, each of the CSSD MPs using all the time he or she may speak in the Chamber of Deputies. The coalition then limited the discussion against which the CSSD plans to file a complaint with the Constitutional Court (US).

Necas told journalists he believes the US would reject such a complaint. He said the US previously stated that the opposition should be constructive.

Several days ago, the opposition managed to block the vote on the bills for about 30 hours and during the weekend for further nearly 40 hours. To speed up the process, the coalition approved that the Chamber would be in session during some nights and on Saturday and Sunday.

Necas said the bills of the reform package were discussed for 21 hours during the first three readings in the Chamber earlier this year.

"They had enough space to discuss the bills in all three readings but they did not use it," Necas said.

The Senate, dominated by the CSSD, then returned the bills to the Chamber but the coalition, including also the conservative TOP 09 and the centrist Public Affairs (VV), overrode its veto last night.

CSSD leader Bohuslav Sobotka said the filibustering was motivated by the arrogant way in which the coalition pushed its reforms through the lower house of parliament.

Sobotka pointed out that the coalition violated the Chamber's rules of procedure by limiting the discussion.

He said the CSSD would be consulting a possible constitutional complaint with lawyers.

Sobotka considers the government-sponsored reforms unjust and insensitive.

TOP 09 chairman Karel Schwarzenberg said the filibustering lowered public trust in the parliamentary system.

"We know that some of the laws are very uncomfortable. They are necessary like a bitter medicine yet they are unplesant," Schwarzenberg said.

VV head Radek John labelled the CSSD obstructions "a populist performance."