Premier loses confidence vote

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Tuesday October 3, 2006

Prague- The sharply divided Czech parliament refused Tuesday to endorse the month-old government of conservative Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek. Topolanek responded to the expected no-confidence vote by announcing that he and his minority cabinet would resign next week, forcing President Vaclav Klaus to propose another option for running the country.

Parliament's 200-seat lower chamber voted 99-96 against Topolanek, despite his pledge for "a minority government cabinet with a major programme."

Topolanek sought parliament's trust one month after he was assigned by Klaus to form a government in the wake of a June election.

Before the vote the conservative leader promised to fight bureaucracy, public debt and corruption. That sparked a debate between the conservatives and liberals who each control half the chamber.

Later the rejected Topolanek told the Idnes news server: "We put together a government that had the public's confidence, with representatives and specialists who could have led the Czech Republic until an early election.

"Now it's going to be complicated," he said.

Among the deputies speaking against Topolanek was former prime minister Jiri Paroubek, whose government resigned after his liberal Social Democrats (CSSD) lost the election to Topolanek's Civic Democrats (ODS).

Paroubek hopes to be entrusted by Klaus to form a government after Topolanek resigns.

The former CSSD government - in power from 1998 until last month - had already tackled problems Topolanek pledged to resolve, Paroubek told parliament, adding an ODS-led "government presents a serious hazard to the Czech Republic's position in the European Union."

Topolanek had expected to lose the confidence vote because ODS controls only 81 deputies, while CSSD has 74 seats.

Among minor parties the Greens (SZ) backed ODS, the Communists (KSCM) sided with CSSD and the Christian Democrats (KDU) were divided.

The political turmoil could lead to an early election, possibly next spring, which Topolanek supported.

Now Klaus - an ODS supporter - could ask Topolanek or another leader to try forming a new government that can win parliament's support.

Another possible option is a "grand coalition" government of ODS and CSSD, although the rival parties disagree in many areas including taxes and social spending.

Klaus, who is currently on a diplomatic tour of Asia, also could assign a non-political caretaker government to run Prague until the next election.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency