After weeks of uncertainty, commencing July, the new minority government of president Vaclav Havel was confirmed in office on Thursday, with the vote of confidence which took place in the Czech parliament. 98 of the 138 members of parliament voted for the Liberal-Conservative Cabinet. All of the 61 representatives from the opposition Democrats (CSSD) left the house to make possible the necessary majority vote. As expected, both Communist and extreme right-wing Republican parties voted against the minority government. The Communists and Republicans managed together only 40 seats. On the other hand, the three parties which form the coaltion government in parliament and who have 200 seats need a further two seats to give them an absolute majority and there for are dependant on the opposition for its support or at leastits tolerance. As a first reaction, Minister President Klaus expressed his satisfaction with his Cabinets victory and said that it was an urgent must that the government begin to function normally, he hoped that it would now be possible.The Social Democrats who had been on a hard confrontation course tothe cabinet with regard to the former communist nationalisation of church propertzy and its return, decided shortly before the vote ofconfidence to tolerate the minority government. According to Milos Zeman (CSSD-Leader) the reason for the tolerance vote was the sharp statements of resistance from Miroslav Sladek Republican Party Chief. During the Government Programm debate which took place prior to the vote of confidence, Sladek is alleged to have said: Roma children should be held criminally responsible from the day they are born their actual birth is the greatest crime and claimed that these statements were common-place in society at large`As a member of parliament enjoyingthe privelege of parliamentary immunety, Sladek can not be prosecuted for his racist statements when made in parliament. In spite of the tolerance vote the Social Democrats do not wish to be seen as an alliance with the minority government Stanislav Gross Fractions-Leader (CSSD) said.´The Social Democrats are fully aware that they are unable to form a government, we are for the interests of the State and under no circumstances will we endanger the State in the interests of party politics.This and only this! is the reason for our silent tolerance of the minority government.