By Tony Connelly, Europe Correspondent
The most immediate consequence of the collapse of the Czech government is that the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by the Czech Republic will almost certainly be delayed.
In general terms, it is a serious blow to the Czech presidency of the EU, and puts the Eurosceptic Czech president Vaclav Klaus in the driving seat.
The confidence vote was lost because two members of Mirek Topolanek's Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and two members of the Greens - who are coalition partners - defected to the opposition.
Mr Topolanek has said he will resign according to the constitution.
Under the constitution, Czech President Vaclav Klaus can form what is known as an expert government.
That differs from a technocratic government, in that some political figures will be appointed. They could include members of the opposition Social Democrats, and many will almost certainly be sympathetic to Vaclav Klaus.
According to sources close to the Czech government, President Klaus may well reappoint Mr Topolanek as prime minister, but the Foreign Minister Karel Schwarenburg is expected to be sacked.
As for the Lisbon Treaty, the Czech senate - which has an Civic Democrat (ODS) majority - was expected to push it through early next month.
Because of the suddenly elevated position of Vaclav Klaus it is now thought unlikely they will do that. The ODS group in the senate is split between pro and anti-Klaus members.
That means the Czechs may not ratify it until after the second Irish referendum, although my understanding is that the senate will ratify eventually, simply because the ODS electorate is the most pro-European of all.
The crisis is really the reflection of a longstanding power struggle between President Klaus and Mirek Topolanek, and other members of the Civic Democratic Party.
