Czech Government Split On Religious Restitution

PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech coalition government may crumble over a junior member’s rejection of a plan to compensate religious organizations for property seized by the former Communist regime.

Two conservative coalition members — the Civic Democrats of the prime minister and the TOP09 party — told the junior Public Affairs party Monday that its “no” would end the coalition.

The proposal gives Czech churches 56 percent of their former property now held by the state and compensates them financially. The Public Affairs party says the state cannot afford the plan due to the economic crisis.

Without Public Affairs, the two other parties, who have long courted the support of religious groups, would lose their parliamentary majority.

The plan is up for vote Wednesday.