Gov't faces no-confidence vote in lower house

Prague, Jan 11 (CTK) - Czech lawmakers will take a no-confidence vote in the coalition government of Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS), initiated by the opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) over the recent presidential amnesty, on January 17, the Chamber of Deputies press department said Friday.

The decision was made by Miroslava Nemcova, chairwoman of the lower house of parliament.

Necas countersigned the amnesty that Klaus announced in his New Year's speech on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Czech Republic.

The amnesty pardons some prisoners as well as people given suspended sentences and halts criminal prosecution that continued for minimally eight years in cases that do not carry more than ten years in prison.

The opposition objects to the extent of the amnesty and to that various kind of fraudsters may be acquitted under it.

It also says Klaus and Necas kept silent on the details of the prepared amnesty.

Some government coalition politicians have also criticised the amnesty. The government TOP 09 has dissociated itself from it.

Necas claims he had to countersign the amnesty, saying it is a constitutional habit. The opposition and some lawyers challenge this explanation.

This will be the fifth no-confidence vote in the government's four-year term that started in mid-2010.

The opposition is expected to fail again this time with regard for the balance of forces in the lower house.