Prague government in crisis

Just before it takes over the EU Council presidency the government in Prague is in the midst of its worst-ever crisis, writes the conservative daily Lidové noviny, pointing to two serious voting defeats in parliament. The left-wing opposition scuppered the government initiative to introduce fees for visits to the doctor and refused to support the extension of the operations of Czech troops abroad. The government now has other things on its mind than the EU presidency, the paper writes: "In a situation like this any prime minister has to consider stepping down. However that kind of move is not to be expected from [Prime Minister] Mirek Topolánek. All he's really fighting for now is his honour; politically he's already been defeated. The government will no doubt manage to struggle through the EU presidency, but it won't introduce any new reforms. It would be more honest for the coalition to admit now that in six months' time [after the EU presidency] it will pack its bags."

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