The list of economic casualties just keeps growing...

Regards - VHF

-

Czech government loses no confidence vote

March 24, 2009

(AP:PRAGUE) The Czech Republic's three-party coalition government has lost a parliamentary no confidence vote, partly due to its handling of the economic crisis, and must step down.

In the 200-seat lower house, 101 lawmakers, the minimum needed, voted Tuesday to oust the government.

Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's Cabinet must now resign.

The Czech Republic currently holds the EU rotating presidency, and President Barack Obama will visit Prague next week for talks with Czech and European leaders.

It is not immediately clear who will be picked by President Vaclav Klaus to form a new government. If three attempts to form a government fail, early elections must be called.