Posted on 02/08/2008 3:46:53 PM PST by Grzegorz 246
Prague - Czech lawmakers failed to elect a new president Friday and suspended their meeting without announcing the results of a second ballot. Neither incumbent Vaclav Klaus or opponent Jan Svejnar emerged victorious from an earlier first round of voting, as they did not receive a required majority in each of the two houses of parliament.
Klaus received 47 votes in the Senate and 92 in the lower house, while his underdog challenger, US-Czech economist Svejnar, was backed by 32 senators and 106 members of the lower house.
Lawmakers then proceeded with a second round of voting. But the session was suspended by lower house speaker Miloslav Vlcek amid squabbling before the outcome could be announced, as the parliamentarians had voted earlier to end the Friday session by 9 pm (0800 GMT).
The two houses of parliament are planning to convene again Saturday at 10 am (0900 GMT). The lawmakers were believed to have failed in electing a president in the second round as well, CTK news agency reported.
If they fail to choose a president in a third round - where both houses vote together and an absolute majority is required - they must restart the entire process within two weeks.
The first two rounds of voting took place late on Friday after a protracted battle over whether the new Czech president should be elected by secret or open ballot.
Klaus' supporters from the Civic Democratic Party, which he had co-founded and led, preferred secret voting. In the end Svejnar's camp prevailed by pushing through the open ballot.
Failure to elect frontrunner Klaus for another 5-year term at the Prague Castle threatens to shake up the ruling Civic Democrats and their fragile centre-right ruling coalition.
Czech presidents have limited powers but the office is highly regarded by the public. The president appoints prime ministers, appoints judges, suggests Constitutional Court judges to the Senate for approval and picks central banker leaders.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.