For the moment, the CR remains an island of relative financial calm but, politically, it's increasingly looking like a stranded island. Although the cabinet survived the no-confidence vote yesterday, Mirek Topolánek remains a lame duck with just 10 weeks before he is supposed to become the titular head of the EU. Complete political gridlock between now and at least mid-Dec. seems hard to avoid. Topolánek declared yesterday that instability after the collapse of his government could lead the EU to take unprecedented action. There's already talk of denying the CR its chance to act as the EU president. If a new provisional government slapped together by Václav Klaus refuses to ratify the Lisbon treaty, expulsion of the country from the EU is a possibility being mentioned behind closed doors. The CR might revert to being a mere associate member, and Klaus could proudly sign the treaty this time too.