The Czech Parliament’s lower house has approved a proposal drafted by Communist lawmakers to tax the compensation that the country’s churches receive for property seized by the former Communist regime.

On January 23, 106-56 vote shows the rising influence of the Communists. The party is not part of the centre-left ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis but helped the minority Cabinet survive a confidence vote.

The nation’s churches, including the Roman Catholic Church and the Jewish community, have had some property held by the state returned, and they are also to receive some $3 billion over 30 years.