Mr Necas, a 45-year-old former social affairs minister, inherits a difficult job, the BBC's Rob Cameron reports from Prague.

BBC: Petr Necas in Prague, 28 June 2010

After his appointment on Monday, Mr Necas called for a "hard-working cabinet" that would quickly deal with the budget.

BBC: Petr Necas in Prague, 28 June 2010

Czech President Vaclav Klaus has appointed Petr Necas, leader of the centre-right Civic Democrat party, as the country's new prime minister.

BBC: Petr Necas in Prague, 28 June 2010

Opposition politicians have called for a vote of no-confidence next week in the government of Prime Minister Petr Necas, an ally of Mr. Klaus who approved the pardon decree.

WSJ: Czech Freedom Rings Off-Key

The controversy over Klaus's re-election meant that when Petr Necas, the leader of the centre-right Civic Democrat party (ODS), was attempting to form a government after the 2010 parliamentary elections, several of his prospective coalition partners made their cooperation conditional on the new government making reform of the presidential election system part of its programme.

BBC: Q&A: Czech presidential election