The speaker of the Czech republic's lower house of Parliament has resigned and said he will not compete in next month's general election.

Vlcek also acknowledged that he had lied to the media by saying he didn't know a former aide he had helped get a state subsidy a few years ago.

Vlcek's major rival conservative Civic Democratic Party called that behavior "unacceptable" and "childish."

The leftist Social Democrats, who oppose any troop increase in Afghanistan, are expected to win the May 28-29 vote.