
Czech lawmakers approve taxation of church restitution plan
PRAGUE (AP) — Czech lawmakers on Tuesday approved a proposal drafted by Communist lawmakers to tax the compensation that the country’s churches receive from the state for property seized by the former Communist regime.
The 114-57 vote in favor of the proposal in the lower house is a further sign of the rising influence of the Communists.
The Communist Party isn’t part of the center-left ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis, but it has provided support in a confidence vote.
The lower house first approved the proposal in January, but the Senate vetoed it a month later.
Churches in the country, including the Catholic Church and the Jewish community, have had some property held by the state returned, and they are also to receive around $3 billion over 30 years.
They oppose the tax and plan to challenge it at the Constitutional Court once it’s signed into law by President Milos Zeman.
The Western Journal has not reviewed this Associated Press story prior to publication. Therefore, it may contain editorial bias or may in some other way not meet our normal editorial standards. It is provided to our readers as a service from The Western Journal.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.