PRAGUE, Czech Republic, June 21 (UPI) -- Czech Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla said Monday he would quit the premiership if his Social Democratic party votes to remove him as party leader.
The Social Democrats have scheduled a vote on Spidla's chairmanship of the party for next Saturday. His position as party leader was weakened by a poor showing in the European elections earlier in the month.
Spidla said Monday he would push for a confidence vote in parliament, possibly on Thursday. Analysts say a victory in parliament would strengthen Spidla's position ahead of the party vote. However, the coalition government which he heads has a majority of just one in parliament.
If Spidla loses the parliamentary confidence vote, the government will be required to offer its resignation to President Vaclav Klaus.
The Czech Republic, like many countries in the region has endured fragile coalition governments for many years. The country joined the European Union on May 1.
