Mirek Topolanek has accepted the outcome of the no-confidence vote that saw his government ousted by one vote, but in a speech to the European Parliament hit out at his country's opposition social democrats "obstructing" the Czech Republic's presidency of the European Union.

The March 24 2009 vote of no confidence was the latest in a series tabled since 2007 by the social democrat opposition, and the vote in favour by 101 MPs came as a surprise, local and international media reports said.

The Czech Republic assumed the rotating six-month presidency of the EU on January 1 2009, a process that has not been without controversy given the significant EU-skeptic forces within the country and the leading role that French president Nicolas Sarkozy has insisted on continuing to play even after Paris relinquished the rotating EU presidency.

In a March 25 statement, the European Commission said that it had  "full trust that the national constitutional law allows for the Czech Republic to continue conducting the Council Presidency as effectively as it has done until now".

"It is for the Czech Republic's democratic process under the constitution to resolve the domestic political issues; the Commission is confident that this is done in a way which ensures the full functioning of the Council Presidency," the EC said.

Topolanek has submitted his resignation as prime minister to Czech president Vaclav Klaus, who will then decide on asking someone to become prime minister and to attempt to form a government. Topolanek and his cabinet remain in office until a new government is formed. Should three successive attempts fail, elections must be held.

The BBC reported from Prague that the "surprise result, which threw observers completely off guard", could have far-reaching consequences beyond the Czech Republic's borders.

In addition to chairing the European Council, the Czech Republic is also in the middle of ratifying the Lisbon Treaty and is in talks with the United States on placing a radar base on Czech soil.