FACTBOX-Czech PM Topolanek

                                
 March 24 (Reuters) - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek,
whose country holds the six-month EU presidency, faces the fifth
attempt by the main opposition party to overthrow his
centre-right cabinet on Tuesday.
                                
 Analysts say the minority government is closer to a collapse
than it was in any of the previous no-confidence motions due to
increasingly hostile relations between the cabinet and a handful
of deputies who have defected from the government camp.
                                
 Here are some key details about Topolanek:
                                
 
                                
 POLITICAL PROFILE
                                
 * Topolanek has a largely pragmatic approach to politics and
is ready to negotiate deals with opponents. He would not form
any government with the far-left Communists.
                                
 * Topolanek suffered a blow in October when the leftist
opposition trounced the government in regional elections. But he
won a new mandate to lead the right-wing ruling Civic Democrat
Party in December, in a vote confirming him as head of
government but upsetting the party's eurosceptic wing. 
                                
 * Public support for his Civic Democrats has been rising
since he took over the EU role.
                                
 * Topolanek revels in tense situations. Analysts say he is
at his strongest as a leader when his political fate is on the
brink.

                                
 WORLD STAGE
                                
 * Topolanek is a strong supporter of NATO and close
relations with the United States. He is wary of closer European
integration that would take away national sovereignty.
                                
 * Topolanek is, however, more consensual on EU matters than
staunchly eurosceptic President Vaclav Klaus. He grudgingly
backs the EU's Lisbon treaty, saying he does not like it but it
is a price worth paying for being part of Europe. 
                                
 * Topolanek's push for free and open markets has put him at
odds with some European politicians, including French President
Nicolas Sarkozy, amid the deepening economic crisis. 
                                
 * Observers say Topolanek's administration has done a decent
job in the EU presidency after some initial blunders.
                                
 * He does not want to rush to adopt the euro but does want
to join eventually when it is favourable for the Czech Republic.
                                
    
                                
 BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS
                                
 * Born in May 1956 in the eastern town of Vsetin, Topolanek
is a trained engineer and businessman.    
                                
 * Elected leader of the Civic Democrat party in 2002. He
replaced Klaus, the current president and one of the country's
most popular politicians.
                                
 * He became Czech prime minister in 2006 as the head of a
shaky coalition following a stalemate in the 2006 elections. His
Civic Democrats, along with two centrist allies, controlled as
many seats as opposition leftists in the 200-seat lower house.
Defections have shrunk the government's support to a minority.
                                
 * The father of four is separated from his wife Pavla and
lives with Lucie Talmanova, a member of the Civic Democrats and
deputy speaker of the lower house. They have a son together.
                                
 * The towering tennis fan occasionally fails to control his
temper. He punched a photographer who took pictures of him and
his baby son last year. Under pressure from his party, he
promised ahead of taking the EU's helm to change his ways and
work on his image.
  (Compiled by Jan Lopatka and Jana Mlcochova)