Czech Opposition to Missile Shield Grows (brings down Prime Minister)

[gulfcoastliberal]

Source: Angus Reid Global Monitor

The vast majority of people in the Czech Republic continue to oppose their country’s participation in the construction of a defence shield for the United States, according to a poll by CVVM. 70 per cent of respondents disagree with the plan, and 72 per cent want the government to call a referendum on the issue.

cut

Political instability will likely delay any decision on the country’s participation in the missile shield. On Mar. 24, Topolanek lost a no-confidence motion against the governing coalition. The motion was related to alleged wrongdoing by lawmaker Petr Wolf. Opposition lawmakers also voted against the government to protest what they regard as failed economic policies to deal with the global financial meltdown.

Under the terms of the Czech constitution, an early election can only take place if Parliament passes a special law for this purpose, or after three consecutive failed attempts to form a new administration.

On Mar. 27, Jan Tamas, an organizer of protests against the missile shield, said he was glad the Topolanek administration was admonished, declaring, "It’s a big victory for democracy in our country. We’re glad that a government which ignored the will of a majority of people has fallen."

Read more: http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/33111/czech_opposition_to_missile_shield_grows

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I really wish we had a parliamentary system.

[FailureToCommunicate]

1. Surprised they're against it: The Cold War worked out so well LAST time around...

For all of us.
(sarcasm)

[Vidar]

2. The Czechs are right.

[Selatius]

3. The Czech people probably feel it will bring them no benefit but trouble.

I doubt many Europeans are in the mood to be doing something such as angering their Russian neighbor with such overt provocation.

[burning rain]

4. Glad of it.

What a worthless scheme. Deterrence worked all the years of the USSR; it will work with them now (and I mean that drolly, because the Russians don't want war, let alone nuclear war). And no-one's going to convince me that Iran means to strike Czechia with missiles.