Huffpo: Czech goverment falls

[Holly_Hobby]

PRAGUE — The Czech government collapsed Tuesday after losing a parliamentary no-confidence vote over its handling of the economic crisis.

It was a huge embarrassment for Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, coming just days before a planned visit by President Barack Obama and midway through the Czech Republic's six-month European Union presidency.

The lower house of Parliament voted 101-96 to declare no confidence in the three-party coalition government, after four lawmakers broke rank with their parties and voted with the opposition. Three legislators were absent from the vote.

It was the first time a government has been ousted by parliament since the country came to existence after the 1993 split of Czechoslovakia.

...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/24/czech-government-ousted-f_n_178600.html

[dkf]

1. Why haven't we heard this anywhere else?

Is this not a big deal?

[Ken Burch]

2. The former Warsaw Pact countries have been the last places

where people backed Reaganism-Thatcherism. Is this a sign(since the Czech coalition was of the "liberalization-groupie" variety, that that region is finally spitting out the koolaid?

[Oregone]

4. No confidence votes aren't the largest deal in the world

Its a normal part of a parliamentary system (its how they operate). Its a standard check on a government. Its only important if it will bring fundamental change to a country in such a way it will impact the US interaction with the new government (and only if that impact is significant in itself, which depends on the country and their influence). This wont matter to the US in the long run probably.

[anigbrowl]

5. No, but in Europe it does force an election

We don't have scheduled elections as in the US; usually the government decides when to hold an election (within its term of office, typically 5 years), but losing a noc-onfidence vote in parliament generally triggers an immediate election.

[Oregone]

6. Yes, I know...

Im watching this action while living Canada. But unless the election produces a radically different government, in a country that will even impact the US significantly, from their opinion, its not a huge deal. The language of a government failing invokes a sort of mob storming the Congress type imagery in Americans I think, but its not the case. Orderly elections proceed.

[burning rain]

3. I would say a no-confidence vote in a party of right-wing asshats...

is something our president and all American lefties will appreciate. Here's hoping this marks the beginning of a wave in Europe!

[galileoreloaded]

7. Out with the Czech's, but he is in as the EU president.............

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/EU-presidency-US-economic-apf-14737788.html