Senate chairman says government could fall

The chairman of the Senate Přemysl Sobotka said he could not rule out the fall of the government if rebels from the three governing parties joined forces to bring it down. The corruption scandal involving two of the governing parties has further alienated the rebels who were potential targets of the blackmail conspiracy. Mr. Sobotka told reporters he was convinced that the rebels were out to destroy the government. Other senior Civic Democrats have spoken about the possibility of early elections, saying they were not prepared to beg the rebels for support. The opposition Social Democrats have indicated that they would be willing to tolerate a caretaker government which would see the country through its EU presidency, that is up until mid 2009.