Prague, Nov 21 (CTK) – Czech Justice Minister Robert Pelikan (ANO) should rapidly submit an insolvency bill, a distraint order and a free legal aid bill to the government, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD) said after meeting Pelikan yesterday.
The legislation is vital because it may help people in difficult situations, Sobotka said, adding that Pelikan’s arrival at the ministry accelerated its work where it was sluggish at the beginning of the election term.
In March 2015, Pelikan replaced Helena Valkova (ANO).
Sobotka said the widened opportunities to provide free legal aid, the simplification of personal bankruptcies and stronger regulation of distraint is crucial legislation in the sphere of judiciary for the remaining year of the government term.
“This is the legislation we need to make it through the parliament. It relates to the sphere which is very problematic from the viewpoint of our society,” he added.
“This is the situation of the people who are heavily indebted, these are the conditions for the distraints so that they are not abused. The people who appear in a difficult situation should have a chance of getting out of it,” Sobotka said.
Sobotka said he expected Pelikan to submit an amendment to the civil code, an amendment to the court experts law and an amendment to the public custodianship law.
Sobotka stressed that the government should discuss the bills at the end of the year at the latest so that the Chamber of Deputies could enact them before the election next year.
The opposition TOP 09 said it was doubtful that the legislation would be enacted as there was not enough time for this.
“In this election term (Pelikan) will not submit the proposals for the new regulations, a new criminal code or a civic court order,” TOP 09 deputy Martin Plisek said.
“The law on free legal aid and probably also the new law on court experts will not be enacted in this election term either,” Plisek said.
Since the bills have not reached the Chamber of Deputies, they have no chance of being debated, he added.
Pelikan said the deadlines for the approval of the bills were quite tight.
“I am glad that Sobotka has promised to try not to have the bills blocked somewhere on their road and to send them to the Chamber of Deputies on time,” he added.
Sobotka has meeting with individual ministers in order to set out the priorities for the remaining year of the government term.
Pelikan is the fourth government member with whom Sobotka has spoken.
On Tuesday, he is scheduled to meet Education Minister Katerina Valachova (CSSD) and Agriculture Minister Marian Jurecka (Christian Democrats, KDU-CSL).
