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| Czech MPs oust government in vote | Czech MPs oust government in vote |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Czech Republic's centre-right minority government has lost a vote of confidence in parliament midway through the country's six-month EU presidency. | The Czech Republic's centre-right minority government has lost a vote of confidence in parliament midway through the country's six-month EU presidency. |
| The result came after a group of four rebel MPs voted with the opposition Social Democrats and Communists against Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek. | |
| Together they garnered 101 votes in the 200-seat chamber, the minimum required. | |
| Mr Topolanek said he would step down, but correspondents say it is unclear how long he will remain in the post. | |
| Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek said ahead of the vote that the government could "complete the Czech EU presidency or its substantial part". | |
| However, Mr Topolanek has ruled out the idea of a caretaker government until June, when the EU presidency passes to Sweden. | |
| According to the constitution, Czech President Vaclav Klaus must decide who to choose to form a new administration. If three attempts to do so fail, early elections will be called. | |
| 'Surprise result' | |
| Tuesday's confidence vote in the lower house followed accusations that one of Mr Topolanek's advisers had attempted to pressure state TV into dropping a programme critical of a former Social Democratic MP who had decided to back the coalition. | |
| The government got what it deserved Jiri ParoubekSocial Democrat leader | |
| It was passed by a majority of one vote after four former members of Mr Topolanek's minority coalition, who had become independents, sided with the opposition. | |
| "The government got what it deserved," Mr Paroubek said afterwards. | |
| The BBC's Rob Cameron in Prague says this surprise result, which threw observers completely off guard, could have far-reaching consequences beyond the country's borders. | |
| In addition to chairing the European Council, the Czech Republic is also in the middle of ratifying the Lisbon Treaty and is in talks with the United States on placing a radar base on Czech soil. | |
| All these important foreign policy initiatives are now thrown into doubt, our correspondent adds. | |
| After losing the vote, Mr Topolanek said he believed the country's position in Europe would inevitably be weakened. | |
| "I believe it can complicate our negotiating power... partners in Europe have grown used to us negotiating hard," he told reporters. |