Czech Government Falls
Last week, the Czech government collapsed after parliament issued a vote of no-confidence against Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek’s center-right administration. The collapse is blamed on the economy and infighting. Holding a rotating European Union presidency, the Czech Republic is halfway through a six-month term and probably will remain in place until the end of the term.
What the collapse means for U.S. missile defense shield plans is unclear. A week before the no-confidence vote, the Czech government “temporarily pulled back” from parliament treaties between the Czech Republic and the U.S. to install missile defense radar. Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said, “This does not mean we would give up on the ratification process. We will return to this issue after talks with the U.S. administration and after the NATO summit in Strasbourg and Kehl.”
The BBC reports that Topolanek said he’ll step down. He and President Barack Obama are scheduled to meet in Prague.
Source: BBC
Tags: Czech Republic, Mirek Topolanek