The Czech Republic's three-party, centre-right government of Prime Minister Petr Necas faces its first no confidence motion in parliament on Tuesday on the heels of a corruption scandal, DPA reported.
The vote was initiated by the opposition Social Democrats in the wake of a corruption scandal that resulted in a resignation of the environment minister, Pavel Drobil. President Vaclav Klaus accepted the resignation on Tuesday.
The scandal was a blow for the cabinet, which had listed among its priorities the fight against corruption when it took power after elections last May.
It left the cabinet vulnerable hours before the vote as it has resulted in bickering between two coalition partners, the Necas-led senior ruling Civic Democrats and the junior ruling Public Affairs.
Public Affairs has yet to say whether it will back the cabinet.
The leftist opposition, which needs 101 votes to topple the government in the 200-seat chamber, has 82 seats. Public Affairs, the smallest coalition partner, wields 24 seats, so it would have a crucial say in whether the coalition survives the no-confidence vote.
In an apparent attempt to calm the situation, President Klaus invited leaders of the governing parties for talks prior to the vote.
The corruption scandal involves a Drobil adviser who asked another official to help manipulate tenders and financing channels, allegedly in a bid to raise money for Drobil's future political career.
When the official, who had taped the conversations, resisted, Drobil tried to talk him into cooperation and offered him a high- level ministry post in exchange for destroying the tapes. dpa kza dms Author: Katerina Zachovalova
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