Prague - President Václav Klaus is back in the spotlight. It will be him who will decide what kind of government will head the country soon.
But Václav Klaus has certainly played a key role before the no-confidence role. For the first time ever he visited the weekend Social Democrats' Congress. In his speech he said that "a government with Bursík and his likes that he prefers not to mention is not dear to his heart."
Some took this as a clear message sent towards the Social Democrats to go ahead with their no-confidence vote.
Speculation runs rife whether it will be Mirek Topolánek forming the new cabinet, or someone who could make sure the Lisbon Treaty will not be ratified.
Mirek Topolánek is expected to resign on Thursday, what will be the first steps of Václav Klaus? How does he view the no-confidence vote? Aktuálně.cz readers had a chance to ask the head of the president's political department, Ladislav Jakl in an online interview.
Among other things Jakl said that the new cabinet will have to be different, otherwise it would not work again.
"It was Bursík's [Greens leader] decision to expell two MPs from their rank [Zubová and Jakubková who voted against the government]. I don't know why he did that."
CzechNews selected for you some of the questions asked by the readers.
Q: How long will it take before Mr. President appoints a new government leader? Or is he planning to start looking only after the EU Presidency is over?
Ladislav Jakl: We cannot wait so long. The country needs a government with a mandate.
Q: Will Mr. President appoint someone else than Mirek Topolánek to form a new cabinet?
LJ: Mr. President will decide as soon as he receives the resignation from Topolánek.
Q: Is it true that Klaus likes Tlustý [Civic Democrat who voted against Topolánek's government] and will appoint him to form a new cabinet?
LJ: I don't know anything about that.
Q: What would you do last night if you were an MP?
LJ: I would ask the premier to make sure the Lisbon Treaty is not ratified. If he promised to do so, I would vote against the no-confidence vote.
Q: Do you consider the no-confidence vote as a responsible step amid the economic crisis?
LJ: I don't think that democracy with all its curves should stop as soon as there is a global economic crisis.
Q: Why does Mr. President accept Russian oil-dollars to sponsor his books? Doesn't he care about many people's concern that Russia is flexing its muscles too much in central Europe?
LJ: No oil-dollars have sponsored president's activities. His books were published in many countries and in many languages and publishing houses choose to get support anywhere they want.
Q: Do you see anything positive about last night's event [government losing the no-confidence vote] for Czech citizens?
LJ: Time will tell.
Q: I think you should get a haircut and shave to look a bit more decent. Hippies and the 1960s are long gone, Mr. Jakl.
LJ: Time and gravitation has been taking care of your problem with my hair.
Aktuálně.cz warned Mr. Jakl to ignore vulgar questions but the president's aide decided to answer them all. In 45 minutes he managed to answer all 77 questions.
Read more: Czech govt collapses by losing no-confidence vote
