Czech lawmakers keep immunity from prosecution
Apr 26, 2012, 3:39 PM
PRAGUE (AP) – The Czech Parliament has rejected a constitutional amendment to limit the unusually far-reaching immunity from prosecution enjoyed by its lawmakers.
On Feb. 8, the lower house of Parliament voted to remove that immunity when lawmakers leave office, but on Thursday the upper house, the Senate, voted 27-10 to reject that proposal.
In the republic, constitutional amendments have to be approved by both houses.
The proposed change is popular among the Czech public, but Parliament has repeatedly refused to approve it.
In most European nations, legislators’ immunity expires once they leave office. In countries such as Sweden, Norway and Finland, lawmakers have no immunity at all.
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