Business Warns Referendum Law Debate May Lead to Possible Czexit
- Political parties have begun debate on new referendum law
- Business worries discussion is dangerous in euroskeptic nation
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Businesses in the Czech Republic are fretting over a debate about a new referendum law, warning it has the potential to trigger a vote on a Brexit-style departure from the European Union that would devastate the economy.
The pushback from business came after Prime Minister Andrej Babis’s ANO party held talks last week on introducing referendums with a far-right leader who’s openly calling to leave the world’s largest trading bloc. While Babis himself said he didn’t want a law to allow votes on EU and NATO membership, he has sought support from parties, including anti-establishment forces, to back his minority cabinet and discussed proposals on modifying the constitution.