Czech cabinet gives smoking ban bill new try after coalition spat

Philip Morris CR as

30/05/2016 12:24

PRAGUE, May 30 (Reuters) - The Czech centre-left government 
approved new anti-smoking legislation on Monday, agreeing to a 
revamped bill after some coalition lawmakers sank a 
government-backed proposal last week. 
    Last week's failure to enact the ban on smoking in 
restaurants raised tensions in the three-party ruling coalition 
after Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka berated some members of a 
partner party for blocking its approval. 
    "It is one of the basic priorities that we agreed with our 
coalition parties," Sobotka said in a statement. 
    "I believe the bill won't collapse again in parliament and 
our coalition partners will take its approval seriously, so that 
it can take effect in 2017." 
    The coalition has operated relatively smoothly since taking 
power two years ago, presiding over a narrowing budget deficit 
and an economy that has grown at one of fastest rates in Europe. 
    But signs of friction have appeared at times between 
Sobotka's Social Democrats and billionaire Finance Minister 
Andrej Babis's ANO party, the two leading parties in polls. 
    A portion of ANO lawmakers voted down a no-smoking bill in 
the lower house last Wednesday, saying the final bill was 
nothing like what was agreed in cabinet due to concessions to 
opposition parties. 
    Sobotka called the vote a "disgrace" and a violation of the 
coalition. Babis responded by saying Sobotka was lying. 
    Tensions eased late last week after an emergency coalition 
meeting where parties agreed to submit new legislation. 
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL5N18O0YS 
    Opposition parties criticised the no-smoking bill as an 
attack on personal freedom and a burden for restaurant owners. 
Most Czechs, however, support the no-smoking push, according to 
surveys. 
 
 (Reporting by Jason Hovet; Editing by Hugh Lawson) 
 ((jason.hovet@thomsonreuters.com; +420 224 190 476; Reuters 
Messaging: jason.hovet.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: CZECH POLITICS/SMOKING