Churches to get back confiscated property
Thursday 08 November 2012
Printable
EmailCzech MPs voted today to hand over vast swathes of government land to the church.
The country's 17 churches will get back about half of the property confiscated by the communist government in 1948, now valued at about £2.3 billion.
They will also receive £1.8bn in compensation over the next 30 years, after which the state will stop covering some of their expenses.
The lower house's vote overturns a decision by the mostly centre-left senate.
The payouts are pretty unpopular with ordinary Czechs on the receiving end of government austerity measures.
And on Wednesday Prime Minister Petr Necas survived a confidence vote in the lower house, which also pushed through widely unpopular tax rises.
If you appreciated this article then please consider donating to the Morning Star's Fighting Fund to ensure we can keep developing your paper.
Editorial
Spending the only way out
George Osborne's advice from the International Monetary Fund is like the curate's egg - good in parts.
Features
Trade unionists will keep fighting for Wales
Wales TUC president sets out the achievements of Welsh workers over the past year - and looks to the battles ahead
Dirty wars
Interview with Jeremy Scahill, author of a chilling new exposé of the US's worldwide war without end