PRAGUE – A new government of technocrats appointed by the left-leaning Czech president has lost a parliamentary confidence vote and must resign, a result that keeps the country stuck in a political crisis.
In Wednesday's vote, only 93 lawmakers of the 193 present in the lower house voted to support Prime Minister Jiri Rusnok's government. A majority was needed to pass.
The vote was widely expected. President Milos Zeman appointed the country's new cabinet last month following June's collapse of the center-right coalition government of Prime Minister Petr Necas in a whirlwind of corruption allegations and marital infidelity.
Zeman's choice of Rusnok sparked anger from the center-right coalition, although it failed to remain united as three members refused to vote against the government. Parliament will discuss early elections as a possible solution.
