Prague, Sept 6 (CTK) – The debate on the anti-smoking bill in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Czech parliament, will last for months and not weeks, Health Minister Svatopluk Nemecek (Social Democrats, CSSD) said on Tuesday, but he expressed hope that it would be passed eventually.
The bill was sent to the lower house health committee for assessment on Tuesday.
The right-wing opposition Civic Democrats (ODS) and TOP 09 deputy groups rejected the government proposal that the draft legislation be approved in a shortened procedure, that is within 90 days.
Deputies are dealing with the bill for the second time.
It was not approved in May since some ANO MPs did not support it. They minded the possibility to establish smoking rooms in restaurants, which ODS MP Marek Benda pushed through.
The coalition partners, the CSSD and Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL), criticised ANO’s stance saying it had thereby violated the coalition agreement and given in to the tobacco lobby.
After the coalition talks, the cabinet unanimously approved the proposed changes to be embedded in the bill, except for the introduction of smoking rooms in restaurants. Some CSSD MPs backed it at first, but this time no Social Democrat should vote for it.
Nemecek said he believed that the bill would be passed for the second time, among others thanks to the public pressure.
A number of deputies plan to submit proposed changes to it.
The government anti-smoking bill bans smoking in restaurants, unsheltered public transport stops and in zoos, except for special smoking areas, but it would allow hookahs and electronic cigarettes. It also curbs the sale and offer of alcohol.
