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Czech ruling coalition quarrels over smoking ban
PRAGUE, Czech Republic – The Czech Parliament has rejected a bill to ban smoking in bars after it failed to get the support of a government coalition partner.
Most lawmakers from the ANO party, led by Finance Minister Andrej Babis, rejected the plan Wednesday, leading to accusations from the Social Democrats that it is damaging the governing coalition.
Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka accused ANO of favouring the tobacco lobby, while Babis replied it was Sobotka’s Social Democrats who destroyed the bill by agreeing with an opposition proposal to allow smoking in separate rooms.
A majority of Czechs support a ban.
Currently, it is up to Czech bar owners to decide if they allow unrestricted smoking in their establishments.
Party leaders plan to meet soon to solve the dispute that potentially harms the coalition.
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