Regeringscrisis in Tsjechië na uitslag Europese verkiezingen (en) - Main contents

The Czech government stands on the brink of collapse following the major defeat for its two coalition parties in the European elections.

Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla announced he would resign if he fails to win a confidence vote by both the Parliament and his own Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD).

The Social Democrats are currently the main ruling party.

However, they received a serious setback in the European Parliament elections, scoring only 8.8 percent (2 seats) which put them in fifth place after two main opposition parties - the Civic Democratic Party (9 seats) and the Communists (6 seats), a non-parliamentary Party of Independent Candidates (3 seats) and the other minor coalition party - Christian democrats (2 seats).

EU Constitution also not helping

Mr Spidla also faces criticism for signing up to the newly agreed European Constitution.

The Civic democrats (ODS) believe the Treaty will damage the Czech Republic's position in the EU.

Their former leader, Czech President Vaclav Klaus, believes the adoption of the Constitution is unfortunate.

According to Mr Klaus, the result of European elections gave a clear signal that the mandate of their authors had been weakened.

"The future of European integration is too serious a thing for it to be decided at emotional evening negotiations only to allow some politicians to write 'fulfilled' in their calendar", Mr Klaus is quoted as saying by the Czech press agency (CTK).

Instead, the well-known eurosceptic thinks it would have been much more appropriate to once again consider the future of the EU and have a broader public debate about it.

And a longer debate on the Constitution is what the ODS is calling for before the expected referendum on the issue.

Therefore, they suggest that a popular vote should be held in about a year and a half from now to allow time for citizens learn the basics of the document.