Klaus signs bill on direct presidential elections

Prague, Feb 17 (CTK) - Czech President Vaclav Klaus Friday signed the constitutional law introducing a direct election of Czech president, his spokesman Radim Ochvat told CTK.

The relevant amendment to the constitution, proposed by the government and passed by parliament recently, will come into force as of October 1.

It enables Klaus's successor to be chosen directly by people in early 2013 when Klaus's second and final possible tenure expires.

Until now Czech president has been chosen jointly by the two houses of parliament.

About a week ago, Klaus called the introduction of direct presidential polls a fatal mistake.

Under the new legislation, the president will be chosen by people in a two-round election.

A candidate for president will need support from a petition signed by 50,000 eligible voters at least, or from at least 20 deputies or 10 senators.

The direct election will be called by the Senate chairperson 90 days before the election day at the latest.

The constitutional amendment adds new reasons for a president's dismissal. He/she could be unseated if the Constitutional Court (US) decided that he/she grossly violated the constitution. Three-fifths of the senators would have to support the relevant constitutional complaint and three-fifths of the deputies would have to nod to it.

The present constitution enables only the Senate to sue a president for treason.

Critics say the new provision weakens the Senate's position and makes a president's dismissal more difficult.

The new law limits a president's immunity to the period of the presidential mandate.

It restricts the president's power to grant pardons by ordering that criminal proceedings not be launched or that they be halted. These decisions newly need to be countersigned by the prime minister or another cabinet minister empowered by the prime minister.