Social Democrat head calls on MP who left party ranks to give parliament seat

The chairman of the Social Democrats Jiri Paroubek has called on MP Michal Pohanka who left the ranks of the party on Wednesday to give up his seat in the lower house. He alleged that Mr Pohanka was being blackmailed by the police on the orders of the ruling Civic Democratic Party. The Civic Democrats have dismissed such allegations. An internet news server on Wednesday quoted Mr Pohanka as saying he felt pressure from his own party, not the police.

The Civic Democratic Party issued a statement on Wednesday saying that whatever Mr. Pohanka's reasons for leaving the party they did not intend to exploit the situation and, as they said "rely on one turncoat". Every vote now plays a decisive role in the 200 seat lower house which is equally divided between the right and left-wing parties with 100 votes each. The Czech Republic has been without a stable government since elections in June.