Czech govt confidence vote seen on Jan. 19-paper

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The new coalition holds just 100 votes in the 200-seat lower house of parliament, and must seek support among defectors from the left-wing Social Democrats to win the vote.

The paper did not name the source of its information, but government spokesman Martin Schmarz said the government had asked parliament to hold the vote as soon as possible.

"We have asked for it to be within 10 days (of the cabinet's appointment on Jan. 9)," Schmarz said.

He said it was up to the parliament's organisational committee to decide the timing of the vote. The committee was due to meet later on Thursday but the agenda of the meeting was not known.

Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek formed a cabinet including his right-wing Civic Democrats, the centrist Christian Democrats and the Green Party, in a second attempt to overcome a political crisis that has crippled governing in the central European country since an inconclusive election in June last year.

Two Social Democrat deputies have quit their party faction, but none of them has pledged support for the cabinet.

If the government loses the confidence vote, then Czech parties must elect a new parliamentary speaker -- a tough task given the balance of power -- who will then appoint another prime minister.

If the next prime minister's cabinet fails in a confidence vote as well, then the president can call early elections.

The Social Democrats have rejected supporting Topolanek's cabinet and have been pushing for a government including themselves, the Civic Democrats and the Christian Democrats.

Even if Topolanek wins the confidence vote, analysts say the government will be unable to push through reforms of the pension, health, tax and welfare systems the country needs to slash its budget deficit and qualify for adopting the euro.

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]