Outgoing Prime Minister Jan Fischer took over in May 2009 after the Civic Democrat leader at the time, Mirek Topolanek, was ousted during the Czech Republic's EU presidency.

BBC: Petr Necas in Prague, 28 June 2010

Refusing to appoint Commissioner Topolanek or Commissioner Vondra, or re-appoint Commissioner Spidla (to cite the three names regarded as favourites for the post of the next Czech commissioner), would smack of collective punishment.

ECONOMIST: European politics

Over dinner, leaders were briefed about the possibility of a fresh legal challenge to Lisbon in the Czech Republic, currently run by an interim government of technocrats after the elected government of Mirek Topolanek fell earlier this year.

ECONOMIST: European politics