Following the collapse of the government 24 March, the Czech Republic is to have a new government, headed by Jan Fischer, a grim little figure of a man with a communist past, who headed the Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ) for the last six years.
Outgoing PM Mirek Topolánek will remain the head of government until May 8, while Fischer puts together his cabinet.
Fischer has barely had time to warm his seat, and already detractors are trying to dig up dirt, accusing him of mishandling ČSÚ finances.
The government collapse in late March was so unexpected, it almost seemed accidental.
Many point the finger at opposition leader Jiří Paroubek, who initiated the no-confidence vote, and at President Václav Klaus who helped create rifts within the ruling ODS and whom many suspect of making some sort of back-room deal with Paroubek prior to the vote.
Some would argue, though, that it was a miracle that Topolánek’s government, which came into existence only after weeks of political wrangling and thanks to the support of two opposition MPs, government lasted as long as it did.
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