Social Democrats call on MPs to give up mandates

The Social Democratic Party has called on two rebel MPs to give up their mandates in the lower house. The party took the step a day after deputies Milos Melcak and Michal Pohanka confirmed they would allow the country's newly-appointed government a chance of winning Friday's confidence vote. The deputies appeared alongside the prime minister in a surprise press conference on Tuesday, saying that their main motive was to bring an end to the country's prolonged political crisis. Both confirmed they would absent themselves from Friday's vote, theoretically tipping the scales in the government's favour. In return they gained a number of concessions including a promise by Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek that his cabinet would consult with the opposition on major reforms.

The Social Democrats immediately expressed anger over the developments: party leader Jiri Paroubek has called the men "traitors" and warned his party would file lawsuits against them on the suspicion of corruption.

Author: Jan Velinger