Reasserting the government's authority: Prime Minister Spidla asks parliament to schedule confidence vote

There is no question of the risk to the coalition government, calculated though it may be: on Monday Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla asked parliament to schedule a vote of confidence early next week. This as a means of reasserting the government's authority just days after the coalition, which holds the slimmest of margins in parliament, failed to stand to the man behind presidential candidate Jan Sokol. The government's failure to hold together cast doubt on the overall ability of the government to function, and a vote of confidence could help it get back on track. On the other hand, with only a one-vote majority in parliament, there is also a chance the plan could backfire, that the government could collapse.

Cyril Svoboda, Vladimir Spidla and Petr Mares, photo: CTK

For the third time running the coalition failed to hold together in an election attempt, dooming their presidential candidate to embarrassing defeat, and paving the way for opposition candidate Vaclav Klaus to win the prize. Even worse for Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla: the hollow reality he was unable to batten down the hatches and get his government to stick together. With a small but effective group of rebels within his own party now breathing down his neck, and a leadership convention ahead later this month, it is not surprising Mr Spidla has decided to ask parliament for a vote of confidence - a bold move that should, once and for all, determine both the government's political future, as well as the prime minister's own. Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla:

"If you imagine that this state of uncertainty would continue day after day, week after week, I think the government's position would gradually be eroded without any hope for the future. Such a situation would see the rise of tacit coalitions. The presidential elections revealed an undeclared coalition at work, representing a different political goal than the official government line. That is a situation which is unacceptable, and it's necessary to set things straight."

Reactions from the other two coalition party leaders were quick to back-up the government: Freedom Union leader Petr Mares, who said he was absolutely sure all Freedom Union MPs would support the coalition. Christian Democrat leader Cyril Svoboda said the same...

Once again the biggest question will come from within the Social Democrats themselves - it is there that Mr Spidla will face his greatest, latest test. With one wing favouring ex-Prime Minister Milos Zeman, willing to form a minority government with the tacit support of the Communists, they could finally get revenge against the prime minister for helping to down Zeman's presidential dreams earlier this year. All it could take will be one vote against. On the other hand, it has to be said that the majority of politicians don't really want to bring the government down and in doing so risk early elections - so the government probably will find support even among the opposition, to see the coalition hold. The confidence vote will take place in a week's time.