Fears for EU treaty as Czech government falls

The fall of the Czech Republic's centre-right government cast new doubts yesterday on the future of the EU's Lisbon reform treaty and overshadowed the country's EU presidency.

Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek rushed back to Prague from the European Parliament after seeking to reassure EU members his political battle would have "no impact" on the Czech Republic's six month leadership of the bloc.

But there are also questions, however, about an accord with the United States to station part of a missile defence shield in the Czech Republic.

Mr Topolanek's coalition, comprising his right-wing Civic Democrats (ODS), the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) and the Greens, narrowly lost a no-confidence vote in parliament late Tuesday. Four rebel MPs voted with the opposition Social Democrats and Communists.

Mr Topolanek will officially resign to President Vaclav Klaus, his political rival, after a Cabinet meeting today, the Prime Minister's spokesman said.

But it was not known whether immediate elections would be called in a bid to end uncertainty which leaves fallout across Europe and adds to instability in the region after Hungary's prime minister announced last Saturday that he would resign.

"We have a case where the Social Democrats are obstructing the Czech Republic. It's a problem seen many times in the course of this presidency. But don't be concerned, the situation will have no impact on the (EU) presidency," Mr Topolanek told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

He immediately left for Prague, leaving behind Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra, who admitted in a speech that the crisis "complicates" ratification of the EU's reforming Lisbon Treaty.

European governments fear that snap elections may only harden Czech attitudes against to the treaty.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he was "worried" by the collapse of the Mr Topolanek government which he said had "damaged" the EU presidency.

"What has happened in Czech Republic again hurts any certainty that we will get the Lisbon treaty," Mr Kouchner added in Paris. Ireland and the Czech Republic are the final two countries still to ratify the Lisbon Treaty which aims to reform EU institutions.

The Czech lower house has ratified the treaty, but there is uncertainty over a Senate vote due next month. "It is not going to be easy," said Mr Vondra.

Ireland's voters rejected the treaty in a referendum but will be asked to vote again this year. The Czech newspaper Lidovne Noviny said "the failure of the Libson Treaty is very likely" after the government collapse.