Prague - Prague authorities are working on a bill on public assemblies, since they see the current legal framework as providing those who organize demonstrations with too much power.
Also, the authorities plan to relocate Prague's "Hyde Park" - a place where people may assembly without informing authorities. from Palackého náměstí to the Letná Plain or nearby Hvězda Park in Prague 6.
According to the authorities, Palacké náměstí cannot sufficiently serve as a place for assemblies, as it is somewhat limited and more massive assemblies can create problems.
"Bigger crowds of people do not fit the space marked for assemblies and that often causes traffic complications on the road since it is an intersection of a number of busy tram lines here," explained Deputy Mayor Rudolf Blažek.
Three days too few
The municipal authorities argue there is a growing number of assemblies announced by groups, in general considered extremist.
The Prague municipality has recently banned two May Day marches announced by Neo-Nazi groups.
The officials complain that the current legal framework doesn't provide them with enough time to examine an announced assembly.
The municipal authority has to decide in no more than three days since the moment it learns about the planned event.
"In the case of suspicion, sthe strict deadline doesn't give the authorities enough time to obtain adequate information that could serve as the grounds to ban the assembly and to examine the information properly to be able to reason their decision to ban the assembly," said Blažek.
Troubles with weekends
In addition, the current law doesn't set the three days to be weekdays. Thus, with announcing an assembly electronically on Friday night, the authorities are left with only one day (Monday) to analyse the issue.
This year in January, for example, Mayor of Pilsen Pavel Rödl breached the law by banning a Neo-Nazi march a few weeks after it was announced.
Experts of the Prague authorities are presently analyzing the law on assemblies. They are to produce their findings in mid-June.
