Opposition Social Democrats call for early elections in 2009

The opposition Social Democrats would like an early general election to be held in the spring of 2009, the party’s vice-chairman Bohuslav Sobotka told journalists on Monday, noting that the early election could be held simultaneously with elections to the European Parliament. Mr Sobotka said the current coalition government was on the verge of disintegration. The centre-right government of Civic Democrats, Christian Democrats and the Greens has recently been dealing with a number of controversial issues including fiscal reform and the plan to site a U.S. radar base on Czech territory. Its regular mandate will expire in the middle of 2010.