Prague, Jan 26 (CTK) – The Czech Chamber of Deputies adjourned yesterday the continuation of its debate on the migrant crisis until February 12 over the absence of Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Interior Minister Milan Chovanec (both Social Democrats, CSSD).
The rightist opposition criticised the government parties for pushing through a break of almost two weeks.
Conservative TOP 09 chairman Miroslav Kalousek said the government coalition has decided to exclude the Chamber of Deputies from the decision-making on the country’s stance on European issues in negotiations on EU level.
He said it is arrogant and offending. With the postponement, the government also made it clear what importance it attaches to the crisis, Kalousek said.
Petr Fiala, chairman of the rightist Civic Democrats (ODS), said the EU is to debate the migrant crisis at its summit in mid-February and so the stand of the Chamber of Deputies will hardly have any fundamental influence on the stance of Czech representatives.
Jiri Mihola, chairman of the junior government Christian Democrats’ (KDU-CSL) deputy group, said the EU negotiations will only start one week after the Czech lawmakers’ deliberations.
The Chamber of Deputies started the debate of the Czech government’s stance on the migrant crisis last Thursday.
Sobotka said then the influx of migrants from Asia and Africa is not organised which some of its opponents claim.
He also said the migrant wave can only be managed by joint forces within Europe, for instance, by reinforcing the protection of its outer border, not by isolated steps taken by individual countries.
Sobotka did not satisfy representatives of the opposition Communists (KSCM), ODS and Dawn who claimed that the government has no prepared solution.
TOP 09 called for a pragmatic solution that would not threaten free movement within the EU.
ms/dr/hol
