Czech PM Sobotka dissolves government

The Debates feature from Euro|Topics offers English (+ French and German) translations of a selections of articles in European news sources on this topic.

Euro|Topics relaunched their website during 2016. Features published before that date are still available via an archive website (see related url hyperlinks).Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka announced on 2 May 2017 the decision to dissolve the government and trigger an early legislative election, in a surprise move. Mr Sobotka named the investigation connected to Deputy Prime Minister Andrej Babiš on suspicions of tax evasion as the main reason.

It was later announced that such decision had been postponed until the second half of the month, allowing for negotiations towards a new government which would avoid the snap election.

Subsequently, anti-government protests took place in a number of Czech Republic cities including Prague on the 10 May 2017. Protesters called for the resignation or stepping down of both Deputy Prime Minister Babiš and President Zeman.

• Primary Source

http://archiv.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/aktuell.html http://archiv.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/aktuell.html

BBC News, 02.05.17: Czech Republic PM Sobotka says government to resign http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-39783343

The New York Times, 02.05.17: Czech Leader, in Power Struggle With Rival, Offers Resignation https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/02/world/europe/czech-republic-sobotka-resignation.html

EurActiv, 05.05.17: Czech prime minister delays resignation as parties seek way forward http://www.euractiv.com/section/elections/news/czech-prime-minister-delays-resignation-as-parties-seek-way-forward/

Politico, 02.05.17: Czech government to resign amid finance minister row http://www.politico.eu/article/czech-republic-government-to-resign-amid-finance-minister-andrej-babis-row-bohuslav-sobotka/

Foreign Policy, 02.05.17: Why Did the Czech Prime Minister Just Resign His Own Government? http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/05/02/why-did-the-czech-prime-minister-just-resign-his-own-government/

Prague Daily Monitor, 02.05.17: Dozens of people attend march against Babiš in Prague http://www.praguemonitor.com/2017/05/02/dozens-people-attend-march-against-babi%C5%A1-prague

Euronews, 02.05.17: Czech PM says government to resign in row over finance minister http://www.euronews.com/2017/05/02/czech-pm-says-government-to-resign-in-row-over-finance-minister

Reuters, 04.05.17: Billionaire businessman Babis is at heart of Czech political crisis http://www.reuters.com/article/us-czech-government-babis-idUSKBN1800ZH

Reuters, 04.05.17: Czech prime minister delays resignation as parties seek way forward http://www.reuters.com/article/us-czech-government-idUSKBN1800SW

Politico, 05.05.17: Czech PM’s U-turn on resignation http://www.politico.eu/article/czech-pm-bohuslav-sobotka-u-turn-on-resignation/

EurActiv, 11.05.17: Anti-government protests sweep Czech Republic http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/video/anti-government-protests-sweep-czech-republic/

Deutsche Welle, 05.05.17: Czech PM reverses planned resignation as political crisis deepens http://p.dw.com/p/2cW2a

Prague Daily Monitor, 11.05.17: Street meetings protest against Babiš, Zeman in Czech towns http://www.praguemonitor.com/2017/05/11/street-meetings-protest-against-babi%C5%A1-zeman-czech-towns

Politico, 11.05.17: Czech finance minister ready to take one for the team http://www.politico.eu/article/andrej-babis-czech-finance-minister-ready-to-take-one-for-the-team-crisis/

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