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Czech president to be directly elected in future
Dec 14, 2011, 14:59 GMT
Prague - Czech citizens are to vote directly for their president in future, after the lower house of parliament passed a constitutional change with a large majority.
Just three lawmakers voted against the bill, which still needs approval from the upper-house Senate, while 159 of the 192 parliamentarians present were in favour. Communist legislators withheld their vote.
Until now, the president has been elected by the upper and lower houses of parliament.
The next presidential elections are in 2013, when the second term of President Vaclav Klaus ends.
Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg has indicated he would like to succeed Klaus. The 44-year-old nobleman, who has Austrian roots, is one of the country's most popular politicians.
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