Today, at its first meeting of its 15th term, the Senate plenary elected new leadership. Miloš Vystrčil (the ODS and TOP 09 Senators' Club) was re-elected President of the upper chamber with the support of 62 votes. Jiří Drahoš (STAN club) will also sit as 1st Vice-Chairman of the Senate, while the other Vice-Chairmen will be Jitka Seitlová (KDU-ČSL and independents club), Jiří Oberfalzer (ODS and TOP 09 club) and Ladislav Václavec (ANO 2011 club).
"I thank my fellow senators for electing me and for the support I have felt. I am very happy that the Senate continues to function as it is used to, that is, it is able to come to an agreement, to respect the election results and the composition of the Senate. That is the basis for it to fulfil its essential role. And I am confident that the Senate, even in its new composition, will fulfil its role and remain faithful to freedom and democracy." said the President of the Senate Miloš Vystrčil after his election, adding: "I would also like to announce that my colleague Jiří Drahoš will be the 1st Vice-President of the Senate."
In the secret ballot for the election of the President of the Senate, 62 senators out of 79 present supported Miloš Vystrčil. Miloš Vystrčil was the only candidate nominated for this position.
Senators elected in this autumn's elections first took the oath of office at the beginning of the first sitting. Traditionally, the constitutionally prescribed oath of office was recited and the youngest of the newly elected senators was the first to take the oath Zbyněk Sýkora. The swearing in of the Senators was attended by the Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who in his speech highlighted the important role of the Upper House of Parliament.
The agenda also includes the establishment of individual committees and commissions, the determination of the number of their members and the confirmation of the election of their chairpersons. The number of senators on the standing delegations to interparliamentary organisations would also be determined and their members elected.
A live stream of the meeting can be watched on Senate website.
Tomorrow, Thursday, 31 October 2024, the Senators will start the 2nd session of the Upper House at 10 a.m. The agenda will include regular legislation, namely the discussion of the so-called flood package. The full agenda is available at on the Senate website.
From left: Jiří Oberfalzer, Jiří Drahoš, Miloš Vystrčil, Jitka Seitlová and Ladislav Václavec
Senate/ gnews - RoZ
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