Czech crisis as parliament fails to elect a president

The Czech Republic’s ruling party was in crisis today in the wake of parliament’s failure to elect a successor to President Vaclav Havel.

MPs had anticipated that it would be tough to replace Havel, whose Velvet Revolution led the country out of communism and became an internationally known leader during his time as president.

But the failure of almost half of the ruling party MPs to endorse their own candidate has set off political turmoil that could eventually lead to the government’s fall.

“This situation may indeed result in the fall of Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla, and with him to the fall of the whole Cabinet,” said analyst Jiri Pehe, a former adviser to Havel.

The vote was interpreted as a challenge to Spidla, the Social Democrat’s chairman. Many MPs refused to back the party candidate in a parliamentary move apparently aimed at trying to install Spidla’s rival Milos Zeman as president.

A former prime minister and party chairman, Zeman has criticised Spidla for the party’s choice to form a ruling coalition instead of a minority government. Spidla, a calm and low-key historian has repeatedly criticised the flamboyant and often populist Zeman for what he says is an outdated leadership style.

The Social Democrats’ candidate, former Justice Minister Jaroslav Bures, was eliminated in the first round on Wednesday. It was unclear when a new election would be held.

The party’s leadership is set to meet on Saturday to decide on which candidate to nominate for the next ballot.

Labour Minister Zdenek Skromach, a Social Democrat, said the party had to field Zeman in the next election because he is the only candidate strong enough to have a chance to win.

“We should not waste this chance,” he said today.

But that could have far-reaching effects, analysts warned.

“With Zeman as president, I cannot rule out the fall of the governing coalition,” said Alexandr Mitrofanov, a commentator close to the Social Democrats.

The opposition Civic Democratic Party’s candidate, former Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus, won the most votes in the secret vote. His party has announced he will be its candidate in the next vote.

The election troubles illustrate the difficulties the country faces as it tries to replace Havel, who has become a respected international figure after leading the country out of communism.

Ailing Havel, 66, is barred by the constitution from seeking a third term. His term ends on February 2.

In a speech before the election, he said he believed it would be possible to elect his replacement in the first vote. But after the three rounds had failed, he said the result “is not a catastrophe, but it is a pity.”