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Czech premier to submit to president Cabinet’s resignation

The Cabinet then was supported by 93 lawmakers, and 100 MPs voted against

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

PRAGUE, August 13 (Itar-Tass) - Head of the transitional government of the Czech Republic Jiri Rusnok will submit to President Milos Zeman the Cabinet’s resignation. The premier has to make this decision after members of the Snemovna (lower house of parliament) on Wednesday issued a vote of no confidence in the government. The Cabinet then was supported by 93 lawmakers, and 100 MPs voted against.

Resignation of the government paves the way for a vote in the Snemovna on the dissolution of the lower house, which means the country will hold early parliamentary elections, the date of which will be announced by Zeman. According to the country’s constitution, they will be held no later than 60 days after the dissolution of the lower house.

After resignation, the Cabinet members will continue to perform their duties until the parliamentary elections are held. Analysts already now say that the ministers are trying to avoid making responsible decisions, leaving them for the new government. “I would say that we will deal with current issues that are politically conflict-free,” the prime minister admitted.

Rusnok’s Cabinet assumed the duties on July 10 after the government led by Petr Necas resigned as a result of a corruption scandal. Rusnok’s team included mostly centrist and left-wing politicians, while Necas’ government was formed of representatives of three right-wing parties. Rusnok’s cabinet from the first days was called “temporary,” “technical” or “transitional.” When handing credentials to the ministers, Zeman explained that the creation of this government was the only way to clear the way for early parliamentary elections.

According to preliminary estimates, the elections will cost the budget about 1 billion kronor (over 50 million US dollars). The regular parliamentary elections were earlier scheduled for May 2014.

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