Czech government collapses days before visit by Obama
Opponents said the ruling coalition did too little, too late on the financial crisis.
PRAGUE, Czech Republic - The Czech government collapsed yesterday after losing a parliamentary no-confidence vote over its handling of the economic crisis.
It was a huge embarrassment for Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, coming just days before a planned visit by President Obama and midway through the Czech Republic's six-month European Union presidency.
The lower house of Parliament voted 101-96 to declare no confidence in the three-party coalition government, after four lawmakers broke rank with their parties and voted with the opposition. Three legislators were absent from the vote.
It was the first time a government has been ousted by Parliament since the country came into being after the 1993 split of Czechoslovakia.
Topolanek said he could resign after his planned trip today to Belgium. "I take the vote into account and will act according to the Constitution," he said.
There has been no indication whom President Vaclav Klaus might choose to form a new cabinet. If three efforts to form a government fail, early elections must be called.
Opposition lawmakers have become increasingly frustrated with Topolanek's administration as the effects of the global financial crisis hit the Eastern European country.
Before the crisis, the Czech Republic's economy had been growing fast, but it is expected to enter a recession this year.
The opposition said the government acted too late and too little - approving a stimulus package last month worth $3.5 billion, including measures for investing in the environment and infrastructure along with tax cuts and loan guarantees.
"It was not able to handle the effects of the economic crisis on the Czech economy," said former Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek, who leads the opposition Social Democratic party. But he said he would not oppose Topolanek's government staying in office until the June 30 end of the Czech term leading the EU presidency.
The European Union executive said it had "full trust" that the Czech Republic could continue its duties until that date.
Topolanek's government took charge in January 2007.