(Prague, 8 April 2026)
In March, the Chamber of Deputies held a total of ten sitting days within its 10th, 11th, 12th, and 13th sessions. During the 10th session, President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel adressed the Chamber, marking his first visit to the legislature in this electoral term.
At the opening of the 13th session, a new Member of Parliament, Josef Nerušil, took the oath of office, replacing Markéta Šichtařová, who had stepped down as an MP. The session subsequently considered a bill returned by the Senate, followed by a block of first-reading bills, European Union matters, international agreements, third-reading legislation, and electoral agenda items.
In addition, a number of expert seminars, round tables and exhibitions were held on the Chamber’s premises.
Chamber Approves the State Budget for 2026
During the 10th session on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, the Chamber of Deputies approved the government’s draft State Budget Act of the Czech Republic for 2026, which ended the current provisional budgetary term.
New Ceremonial Edition of the Constitution of the Czech Republic
The Office of the Chamber of Deputies presented to the public a new ceremonial edition of the Constitution of the Czech Republic. Its authors, Ondřej Báchor, Matěj Činčera, and Jan Novák, received the Czech Grand Design 2025 award in the graphic design category for this work.
The project builds on the integration of historical tradition, book craftsmanship, and contemporary technologies. Paper was chosen as the key material of the book object—not only for its cultural significance, but also for its accessibility, modesty, and openness, reflecting democratic values. The competition will be followed by an exhibition presenting all submitted designs.
The exhibition will be on display in the foyer in front of the main chamber from late spring 2026. The Office of the Chamber of Deputies also plans to further present the competition designs in an accompanying publication.
The new edition will be used for representative, ceremonial and symbolic purposes.
Public Hearing of Candidates for Public Defender of Rights
On 17 March, a public hearing was held for candidates nominated by the President of the Czech Republic, the Senate of the Czech Republic, and the Czech Rectors’ Conference for the position of Public Defender of Rights. The candidates are former Constitutional Court judge Jaromír Jirsa, lawyer Eva Kostolanská, former Government Commissioner for Human Rights Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková, attorney Vítězslav Dohnal, and the current Deputy Ombudsman Vít Alexander Schorm.
Children’s Rights Ombudsman Martin Beneš Takes the Oath
Martin Beneš became the Children’s Ombudsman after taking his oath of office before Tomio Okamura, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. The ceremonial oath-taking took place in the Thun Salon. Martin Beneš was elected Children’s Rights Ombudsman by the Chamber of Deputies on 6 March 2026, receiving 107 out of 164 votes cast in a secret ballot. The term of office is six years.
The Office of the Children’s Rights Ombudsman was established in 2025. It ensures that institutions respect the rights of minors, assists in addressing their complaints, and highlights systemic issues.
Day of Folk Costumes in the Chamber of Deputies
Participants of the third annual Day of Folk Costumes opened the programme with a gathering in the Dvorana Hall, where an exhibition of traditional costumes from the Visegrad Group countries was inaugurated. Opening remarks were delivered by the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Tomio Okamura, Minister of Culture Oto Klempíř, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Radek Vondráček, Secretary General of the Chamber of Deputies Martin Plíšek, and representatives of the Visegrad Group countries.
This was followed by a traditional ceremonial procession from Malostranské Square to the State Acts Hall, where a diverse programme celebrating the traditions of the V4 countries was held. Dance ensembles from Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic performed.
Interparliamentary Diplomacy
Speakers of the Czech and Slovak Parliaments Honour Czech–Slovak Relations
The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic Tomio Okamura together with the Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Richard Raši met at mountain of Velká Javořina on the Czech–Slovak border. At this site—long a symbol of Czech–Slovak mutual relations and traditional gatherings—they laid flowers at the Memorial of Czech–Moravian–Slovak Solidarity in the presence of the Honour Guard of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic.
Meeting Between the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies and the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
The Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Tomio Okamura received the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Woo Won-shik. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Speaker Jiří Barták, Chair of the Economic Committee Radim Fiala, and member of the Czech Republic–Republic of Korea Interparliamentary Friendship Group Zuzana Ožanová.
Reception of a Delegation of the Vice-Chairman of the State Great Khural of Mongolia
On Tuesday, 3 March 2026 a meeting took place in the Chamber of Deputies between a delegation led by the Vice-Chairman of the State Great Khural of Mongolia Mr Bat-Erdene Jadamba and the First Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Mr Patrik Nacher along with members of the Czech Republic–Mongolia Interparliamentary Friendship Group.
Meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Defence and Security Committee in the United States
Growing global security threats are compelling NATO allies to seek a common approach. The Defence and Security Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, of which MP Lukáš Vlček is a member, therefore met in the United States to discuss foreign policy, defence spending, and Europe’s role. In Washington, delegates held discussions with representatives of the U.S. administration and experts on challenges posed by Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. Key topics also included allied defence budgets and Europe’s involvement in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
Photos: Office of the Chamber of Deputies / Lukáš Janičina
For more photos from the Chamber of Deputies visit our Flickr gallery here
