Czech Republic: government narrowly survives parliamentary vote
Thousands of people take part in a protest by trade unions, pensioners, and student associations against the centre-right government’s planned budget cuts and austerity measures, on April 21, 2012, in Prague. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered for an anti-government rally in Prague’s central Wenceslas Square today as the government appeared on the verge of collapse.
The Czech Republic narrowly survived a parilamentary vote today threatening to dissolve the government, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The move gives the embattled Czech government, currently under fire over unpopular austerity measures, an unexpected lease on life following today's collapse of Romania's government over similar problems, reported The Associated Press.
More from GlobalPost: Romanian government falls in no-confidence vote
The final vote, which came after an intense nine-hour parliamentary debate in Prague, was close: 105 lawmakers for, 93 against, said AP.
The political turmoil in the Czech Republic and Romania speaks to challenges leaders face when it comes to instituting economic reforms key to the bloc's recovery but unpopular domestically, noted The Wall Street Journal.
Cost-cutting measures have recently prompted some of the largest anti-government demonstrations seen in either nation since the heady days of the historic 1989 communist overthrow, said Reuters.
The new university entrance fees slapped on Czech students have embittered many, as have changes to health and pension systems, tax increases, and income tax hikes, reported AP.
A crowd of some 100,000 demonstrated against the economic measures in Prague on Saturday, said AP.
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