European Interest

New bill to decide on ‘Czexit’ referendum

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A general referendum bill that would enable to hold a referendum on Czexit has been promoted by Tomio Okamura's far-right SPD together with the KSCM.

Czech political parties are set to decide if a referendum should be held on whether the country should exit the European Union, according to local media reports.

The daily Hospodarske noviny (HN) reported that negotiations about the shape of a general referendum bill have been held by the ANO movement, the Pirates, the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) and the Communists (KSCM), which are the first, third, fourth and fifth strongest parties, together commanding 137 seats in the 200-seat Chamber of Deputies, HN writes.

A general referendum bill that would enable to hold a referendum on Czexit has been promoted by Tomio Okamura‘s far-right SPD together with the KSCM.

As reported by the Prague Daily Monitor, the Pirates would nod to this, but only if the departure from the EU required support from a high share of those participating in the referendum.

But, ANO, the strongest party in parliament, rejects the possibility of a referendum on Czexit.

“For the time being, I say that this is ruled out on the part of ANO, but the ANO deputies’ group is yet to meet for a debate,” ANO MP Helena Valkova said after the four-party negotiations last week.

Constitutional referenda could apply to changing constitutional laws and international relations such as the Czech membership of the EU. Such a referendum’s result would be binding only if supported by 60% of those participating in it.

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