Vladimir Spidla

The move signals the downfall of the center-left coalition government led by the Social Democrats (CSSD) since 2002.

Pressure had been mounting on Spidla from within the CSSD to step down as party chairman in favor of Stanislav Gross, the deputy prime minister and interior minister, as the party's popularity continues to plummet.

In the European Parliament elections June 13, the CSSD finished fifth and won just two of the country's 24 seats.

The party has been split into factions over the austerity measures undertaken by Spidla as part of reforms to ready the country for European Union membership.

In the confidence vote, 103 members of the party's 181-member executive committee voted against him, just six short of the votes needed to oust him from the leadership.

The Japan Times Weekly: July 3, 2004
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