Czech government collapses over crisis

[FrankRep]

Czech government collapses over crisis


Financial Times
March 25 2009


The Czech government collapsed last night after -losing a vote of confidence over its handling of the economic crisis.

The 101-96 vote marks the end of the coalition government of Mirek Topolanek, the centre-right prime minister, as well as the effective conclusion of the already bumpy and crisis-ridden Czech presidency of the European Union, which formally expires on June 30.

"How can a government which has no support in the country be able to lead the European Union?" said Jiri Pehe, a Prague-based political scientist.

It was a huge embarrassment for Mr Topolanek, just halfway through the presidency of the EU and ahead of a visit next month by Barack Obama, the US president, to Prague.

Mr Topolanek said he planned to resign after returning from a trip to Brussels. Jiri Paroubek, the leader of the opposition Social Democrats, has said he will only push for fresh elections after the Czech Republic's presidency of the EU expires.

The EU tried to put the best face possible on the embarrassing failure of the government leading the bloc, issuing a statement that said: "It is for the Czech Republic's democratic process under the constitution to resolve the domestic political issues; the Commission is confident that this is done in a way which ensures the full functioning of the council presidency."

The unexpected fall of Mr Topolanek's government adds strength to the French argument that the presidency of a 27-member EU. which forms the world's largest economy is unsuited for smaller and ill-prepared countries.
...


Full Story:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/51547cb0-18e9-11de-bec8-0000779fd2ac.html

[Deborah K]

Wow!

[slacker921]

another source (http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/25/czech-republic-collapse-markets-equity-crisis.html).. their stock market didn't seem to mind the news.

[axiomata]

Gotta remember that a "government collapse" in a parliamentary government is not as bad as it sounds.

[Deborah K]

Gotta remember that a "government collapse" in a parliamentary government is not as bad as it sounds.

Unless of course, it is replaced by a totalitarian regime.

[silverhawks]

Unless of course, it is replaced by a totalitarian regime.

Although the EU is a totalitarian regime.

"The unexpected fall of Mr Topolanek's government adds strength to the French argument that the presidency of a 27-member EU. which forms the world's largest economy is unsuited for smaller and ill-prepared countries."

In other words, the "smaller, ill-prepared countries" should be excluded from the presidency, and just do as they are told by the larger nations. Wonder what the French (i.e. Nicolas Sarkozy) considers as criteria to be "prepared"?

[Cowlesy]

That's too bad, because if I recall correctly, the Czech Republic President was pretty free market as compared to the rest of the socialist european countries.

That's probably why he's been under attack --- don't want any of those crazy "Free Market" ideas floating around.

[sailor]

That's too bad, because if I recall correctly, the Czech Republic President was pretty free market as compared to the rest of the socialist european countries.

Klaus is stil the president. (Yes he is the free market guy who had Ron Paul over for a visit a few years ago.)

This is just the prime minister and the cabinet being thrown out by a parliament vote. Now the parties in the parliament will try to form a different coalition, wide enough to install a new cabinet (aka "government"). Most likely it won`t even take new elections.

[krazy kaju]

Unless of course, it is replaced by a totalitarian regime.

"Government collapse" in European terms means that the coalition of parties that form the majority of parliament, and thus also control the Head of Government (Prime Minister), breaks up. If you no longer hold a majority in parliament, who is the Prime Minister? Without a majority hold in parliament, the greater portion of the executive branch of the government effectively dissolves, and must be replaced by the next elections.

[sailor]

It turns out this former PM is fairly reasonable too. Check his Obama comment: http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/026012.html

He is from the same party the president Vaclav Klaus is and no worries, he`ll probably just swing back into being PM as Klaus being the president will hand him the mandate to try to form a new coalition.

Anyways this pocket of reason in Czech Rep. really shouldn`t come as a such a surprise now that I think about it. They have a sturdy Liberal tradition. Czechoslovakia remained a liberal democracy even in the 1930 as all their neigbours fell to authoritharianism.

[AutoDas]

So the Czech Republic has the strongest economy in Eastern Europe and people are still grasping for social democrats?

[Mitt Romneys sideburns]

So. . . what do Europeans call it when the government "collapses" in the same sense that we mean "collapse"?

[Monolithic]

It turns out this former PM is fairly reasonable too. Check his Obama comment: http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/026012.html

He is from the same party the president Vaclav Klaus is and no worries, he`ll probably just swing back into being PM as Klaus being the president will hand him the mandate to try to form a new coalition.



not like it matters, his party is going to lose in the election next year

http://www.angus-reid.com/upimg/czech_mar25.jpg

Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD)


35.3%

Civic Democratic Party (ODS)
27.8%


Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM)
11.0%


Christian and Democratic Union - Czech People’s Party (KDU-CSL)
6.0%


Green Party (SZ)
5.3%

[sailor]

So. . . what do Europeans call it when the government "collapses" in the same sense that we mean "collapse"?

Well it is the fault of the article I think. The word used for this isn`t really "to collapse", it is "to fall". They should have said the Czech government fell rather than collapsed.



not like it matters, his party is going to lose in the election next year


Oh.

Well I`m sure they deserve it. Too bad you can`t have an election where all parties would lose. No party really deserves to be in power.

[sailor]

Turns out the PM and the president are actually opponents despite stemming from the same party. Geez this is complicated, I give up...



Czech leftists say will not back any Topolanek govt

PRAGUE, March 25 (Reuters) - The Czech government was left shorn of authority on Wednesday after a no-confidence vote, its currency weakened and doubts rising over its ability to cope with economic storms and the demands of the EU Presidency.

Mirek Topolanek's centre-right government was defeated in a no-confidence vote on Tuesday, but the opposition Social Democrats appear ill placed to form an alternative coalition.

"It seems the Czechs are entering a longer period of uncertainty," said Stuart Bennett, a currency strategist for Calyon bank. "You can understand why oppositions do this, but it is almost like cutting off your nose to spite your face."

The vote could leave Topolanek in the prime minister's office for several months yet, but with less power to tackle problems of growth and financing that have also hit regional heavyweight Poland and driven three other once-booming economies to seek rescue from the International Monetary Fund.

Topolanek, his defeat secured by the defection of rebel government deputies, said only he could lead a new cabinet. A senior official of the leftist opposition said it would not support any bid to form a new government under Topolanek.

The uncertainty is made more acute by personal rivalries.

President Vaclav Klaus, founder of Topolanek's Civic Democrats but now his political opponent, has the sole right to pick the new prime minister.

to read more (http://wire.antiwar.com/2009/03/25/czech-leftists-say-will-not-back-any-topolanek-govt/)