Turbulent Politics

The promise that European Union (EU) entry would facilitate political stability in Central Europe has proved empty so far. On May 2, the day after Poland's accession to the EU, Leszek Miller resigned as the country's president. The mandate of Miller's government had been severely weakened by the performance of the dominant Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) party in EU elections, the creation of a breakaway faction by rebel SLD deputies, and the increasing popularity of the centre-right opposition. This was followed by the resignation of Czech leader Vladimir Spidla in late June. Spidla's three-party ruling coalition suffered a surprisingly comprehensive

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