ČSSD requests special session to vote on gov't

Valtice, South Moravia, April 18 (CTK) - The Czech opposition Social Democrats (CSSD) yesterday asked Chamber of Deputies head Miroslava Nemcova (Civic Democrats, ODS) to convoke a special session to take a vote of no confidence in the centre-right cabinet of Petr Necas (ODS), CSSD head Bohuslav Sobotka said.

He told journalists that he expects the junior opposition Communists (KSCM) and probably also dissatisfied deputies from the governing coalition to support the no-confidence motion.

The CSSD and KSCM together have 82 seats in the 200-seat Chamber of Deputies, where at leat 101 votes are needed to topple the government in a no-confidence vote.

Sobotka said the government of the ODS, TOP 09 and Public Affairs (VV) has lost the moral right to govern and implement reforms.

He said the CSSD's initiative is connected not only with the current government crisis but it also reacts to the the cabinet's poor performance since its establishment nine months ago.

The government has wasted the chance to lead a discussion on reforms and implement reforms. "The CSSD can no longer be watching [the situation]," Sobotka said.

If the CSSD succeeds in unseating the cabinet, it would push for early elections to be held as soon as possible, he continued.

He said he expects the lower house's no-confidence vote to take place after the Easter next week.

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