LIDEM to quit coalition by January 10, threatening to topple Necas´s government

Prime Minister Petr Necas’s junior partner LIDEM said it will quit the coalition by Jan. 10 after its leader was dismissed as defense minister, threatening to topple his government. “This is the factual end of the government,” Deputy Premier Karolina Peake, head of the LIDEM party, said on Czech Television yesterday after Necas ordered her removal just eight days into the job. Peake made “unreasonable” personnel changes at the ministry, Necas told reporters in Prague. / Peake’s tiny LIDEM party had provided vital support to the Cabinet in the 200-seat parliament, where Necas is struggling to muster a ruling majority. We expect the opposition to call no-confidence vote and we would also expect that the existing coalition could work out some sort of deal to gain the confidence.