Czech PM Forced to Resign after No-confidence Vote

The Czech constitution requires PM Mirek Topolanek to submit his resignation to President Vaclav Klaus, who will then appoint someone else to form a new government. Photo by BGNES

The Czech government lost a no-confidence vote in parliament Tuesday, forcing the prime minister and his Cabinet to resign.

The center-right government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek lost the vote 96-101, the Czech daily Mlada fronta Dnes reported, as cited by CNN.

The no-confidence vote in the lower house followed accusations that one of Mr Topolanek's advisers had attempted to pressure its public TV channel into dropping a broadcast critical of a former Civic Democratic Party (ODS) MP.

The Central European country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, but the vote is not expected to affect that.

According to a statement from the Czech presidency on the EU Web site, Topolanek accepted the result of the vote. The Czech constitution requires Topolanek to submit his resignation to President Vaclav Klaus, who will then appoint someone else to form a new government.

The European Commission said it was confident the Czech Republic could continue its EU role effectively, the BBC reported. In addition to chairing the European Council, the Czech Republic is also in the middle of ratifying the Lisbon Treaty, and is in talks with the United States on placing a radar base on Czech soil.

"I believe it can complicate our negotiating power... partners in Europe have grown used to us negotiating hard," Czech PM, Mirek Topolanek.

The European Commission issued a statement expressing confidence that the Czech EU presidency would not be affected.

"The Commission has full trust that the national constitutional law allows for the Czech Republic to continue conducting the Council Presidency as effectively as it has done until now," it said.

 

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!