Civic Democrat regional organisations say chairman should go if government fails

A number of Civic Democratic Party regional organisations are calling on Mirek Topolanek to step down as leader if his latest attempt to form a government fails. Prime Minister Topolanek has signed a coalition deal with the Christian Democrats and the Greens. The same three parties failed a vote of confidence in October; they would need the support of at least one left-wing rebel to pass a confidence vote.

Prague Mayor Pavel Bem - first deputy chairman of the Civic Democrats - said Mr Topolanek should allow somebody else to try to form a government, if the proposed coalition fails again.

Mr Topolanek on Wednesday apologised for publicly criticising several senior party figures, including Mr Bem, President Vaclav Klaus and outgoing finance minister Vlastimil Tlusty.

Author: Ian Willoughby