Czech premier calls confidence vote

Artile reported that Czech premier Petr Necas called for a vote of confidence for 27 April 2012 after the smallest member of the three-party ruling coalition withdrew on the 23 April 2012, but the government looked likely to survive thanks to support from a breakaway faction of party rebels.

Mr Necas's Civic Democratic party (ODS) formally announced on 23 April 2012 that the coalition government formed in 2010 had ended, following the decision of Public Affairs party to go into constructive opposition.

Anti-government demonstrators in the Czech Republic had staged what they describe as the biggest rally since the fall of communism in 1989 on the 21 April 2012.

They said that 120,000 people packed the capital Prague, protesting against austerity measures and corruption. Police put the numbers at 90,000.

ESO: Background information: The economy is open but institutions are weak http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-economy-is-open-but-institutions-are-weak/

ESO: Background information: Czech coalition suffers further blow http://www.europeansources.info/record/czech-coalition-suffers-further-blow/

BBC News, 21.4.12: Czechs stage huge anti-government rally in Prague http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17799937

Ekonom, 27.4.12: Revolving doors at the Ministries (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/1887121-revolving-doors-ministries

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