Government survives no-confidence vote

The government has, as expected, survived a vote of no-confidence tabled by the opposition Social Democrats. They and the Communists mustered 97 votes, four short of the majority they would have needed to topple the Civic Democrat-led coalition. The vote came in protest at the coalition's position towards Deputy Prime Minister Jiri Cunek, who is under investigation for alleged bribe-taking.

The prime minister, Mirek Topolanek, described the no-confidence vote as a waste of time that could have been devoted to more useful work. During a debate before the vote Mr Topolanek refused to respond to stinging criticism from opposition leader Jiri Paroubek; the prime minister told journalists there was nothing to say.

President Vaclav Klaus welcomed the outcome of the vote. He said it would have caused instability in the country if the government had fallen.