CZECH OUT...

This seemingly troubled gentleman is Czech Prime Minister, Mirek Topolanek, whose government has just resigned. If he looks concerned about it, it`s nothing compared with the trail of potential destruction his resignation will leave behind.

The Czech Republic is one of the few remaining countries in Europe yet to finally ratify the infamous Lisbon Treaty (EU Constitution) and Topolanek`s resignation provides Czech President Vaclav Klaus with an opportunity to further his anti-Lisbon Treaty stance by appointing a new government that might scupper the ratification process. Next, the Czech Republic currently holds the Presidency of the EU until they hand over to Sweden at the end of June. And lastly - for now at least - Topolanek`s departure might well impact on America`s plans to deploy `defence` missiles in that country.

Now, I`m no expert on Czech politics, but it will be interesting and significant to see what emerges in the coming days. Despite soothing messages coming from the diplomatic corps, I suspect a good deal of panic and uncertainty in the corridors of power in Brussels and if there`s one thing I enjoy witnessing it is panic and uncertainty in the corridors of power in Brussels. (Actually, that`s two things, but you get my drift.)

No doubt the EU, in all it`s democratic and representative glory, will shrug off these events as little more than inconveniences as they continue their remote, headlong dictatorial journey to take us all into superstateness, but I wouldn`t mind being in Prague for the next few weeks. It should be fun.