Social Democrats threaten to initiate no confidence vote in government

The opposition Social Democrats have again threatened to initiate a vote of no confidence on the government of Mirek Topolanek next week if coalition MPs on Friday obstruct an extraordinary session of the lower house which is to discuss the case of deputy Prime Minister and Christian Democrat chairman Jiri Cunek. The Social Democrats first considered this step last week when the prosecutor in Mr Cunek's case was replaced. The party then accused the government of trying to manipulate proceedings.

Mr Cunek has been under investigation for several months now over allegations that he accepted a bribe of half a million crowns five years ago when he was mayor of the Moravian town of Vsetin.