BRNO, September 11: Czech Republic The Czech Constitutional Court scrapped a law on Thursday which allowed for an early election next month, postponing the polls probably until November.
The court upheld a complaint that the law, which cut the normal four-year term of the lower house of parliament about eight months short, was unconstitutional, court Chairman Pavel Rychetsky said.
The Czech Republic is run by a weak technocrat government and analysts look for the election to bring an administration with a stronger mandate to tackle the country’s fast eroding public finances and help economic recovery.
‘The constitutional law reducing the length of the lower house term is being cancelled as of Sept 10… the president’s decision to call lower house election…is void,’ Rychetsky said in announcing the court’s decision.
The original plan called for the election to be held on Oct 9-10, ahead of the end of the regular term in mid-2010.
Fearing the court ruling, politicians have already been working on a fresh amendment to the constitution to enable the election to be held as soon as possible, possibly on Nov. 6-7.
The early election was agreed by the country’s main political parties after a no-confidence vote brought down a centre-right administration in March, midway through the country’s term as European Union president.
But the law enabling the vote was challenged by an outgoing idependent deputy who complained against the early date, saying he had the right to serve his full four-year term.
Parties agreed to change the constitution in a way that will allow the lower house of parliament to dissolve itself, permitting a new election regardless the proceedings.
Parliament started debate on this fast-track procedure on Tuesday, and the lower house may dissolve itself next week.
A delay in the election means the new parliament will probably not have time to approve the 2010 budget, leading to a period with a provisional budget early next year. Spending under provisional budget is limited to the previous year’s levels.
–Agencies