Czech Republic government proposes national referendum law

The Czech government has submitted a proposal to the Chamber of Deputies to establish a mechanism for national referendums. If passed, the law would allow citizens to propose referendums by collecting 300,000 signatures, or allow Parliament to initiate them with the consent of both chambers.

For a referendum result to be binding, at least 35 percent of eligible voters must participate. Passing the constitutional amendment requires a three-fifths majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Currently, the governing coalition of ANO, SPD, and Motorists holds 107 seats in the Chamber, meaning they must secure votes from opposition members to reach the 120-vote threshold required for approval.

The opposition party ODS has expressed disagreement with the proposal, with chairman Martin Kupka stating that such voting could serve more as a marketing tool than a substantive process and might further divide society. Justice Minister Jeroným Tejc defended the move, arguing that democracy is incomplete if citizens cannot decide directly on key state issues. The proposed law aims to be effective by the first day of the second calendar year following its announcement.