Czech MPs oust government over economy

The Czech government collapsed on the 24 March 2009 night after losing a vote of confidence over its handling of the economic crisis.

The vote marked 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 was to end on the 30 June 2009.

Vaclav Klaus, the country’s eurosceptic president, would now hold the balance of power and will get to name a new government leader.

France24, 24.3.09: Topolanek toppled in no-confidence vote http://www.france24.com/en/20090324-topolanek-resign-lose-no-confidence-vote-czech-republic

BBC News, 24.3.09: Czech MPs oust government in vote http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7962177.stm

Deutsche Welle, 24.3.09: Czech Prime Minister Says He'll Quit After Losing Vote of Confidence http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4124494,00.html

IHT Europe, 24.3.09: Czech leader loses vote of confidence http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/03/24/europe/czech.php

EurActiv, 25.3.09: Europe on 'autopilot' as Czech government falls http://www.euractiv.com/priorities/europe-autopilot-czech-governmen-news-221433

Czech Republic: EU Presidency: Press Release, 24.3.09: Response of Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek to no-confidence vote http://www.eu2009.cz/en/news-and-documents/news/response-of-czech-prime-minister-mirek-topolanek-to-no-confidence-vote-13407/

BBC News, 25.3.09: Czech collapse 'no threat to EU' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7963175.stm

European Commission: MEMO/09/133: Statement of the European Commission on today's vote in the Czech Parliament http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/133&format=PDF&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Deutsche Welle, 25.3.09: Toppling of Czech Leader Raises Concerns Over EU Presidency http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4125447,00.html

France24, 25.3.09: Political crisis will not affect EU presidency, says Topolanek http://www.france24.com/en/20090325-czech-political-crisis-will-not-affect-eu-presidency-says-pm-mirek-topolanek

Spiegel Online International, 25.3.09: EU without a Leader after Czech Government Collapses http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,615402,00.html

---