Czechs can elect president themselves

The President of the Czech Republic will in future be elected directly by the people. Following the house of representatives the senate, the country's second chamber of parliament, voted on Wednesday in favour of a corresponding change to the constitution. The business paper Hospodářské noviny says the decision marks a turning point for voters: "The fears of the opponents of direct elections, namely that the people could elect some superstar or another, failed to sway the senators who are themselves directly elected. The parliamentarians wanted first and foremost to give the people what they want, as voters have been calling for direct elections for some time. The powers of [President] Václav Klaus' successor will neither be stronger nor weaker than the those of Klaus himself. Nevertheless the people have yet another opportunity to go to the polls, and the presidential elections will at least be among the most entertaining."

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