Government faces no-confidence vote in lower house

The centre-right government of Prime Minister Petr Nečas will face a no-confidence vote in the lower house next Thursday. The proposal has been tabled by the opposition Social Democrats in connection with the controversial amnesty declared by President Klaus and counter-signed by the prime minister. Under Czech law it is the government, not the president, which is ultimately responsible for the decision. The amnesty has come under fire for being too broad and halting high-profile prosecution cases involving corruption, abuse of office and embezzlement.