(PRAGUE) - Czech lawmakers decided Tuesday that they, and not the public, will vote on whether to approve the EU reform treaty thrashed out in Lisbon earlier this month by European leaders.

Members of the lower house of parliament roundly defeated a communist party proposal calling for the public to vote on the deal, aimed at reshaping how the EU operates, and confirmed they would have the final say.

European affairs minister Alexandr Vondra argued the agreement did not have a constitution changing character and was a lot more succinct than the previously proposed EU constitution, rejected in referenda by French and Dutch voters in 2005.

Three rebels from the main government party, the rightwing Civic Democrats, including former finance minister Vlastimil Tlusty, voted with the communists in favour of a referendum.

Text and Picture Copyright 2007 AFP. All other Copyright 2007 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.