Civic Democrats to back Vaclav Klaus's re-election as president next year

The ruling Civic Democratic Party has announced it will support the re-election of President Vaclav Klaus in next year's elections. Mr Klaus, the Civic Democrats' honorary chairman, founded the party in 1991 and chaired it until late 2002. He was elected president in 2003. The Civic Democrats, however, do not command enough votes in parliament to secure Mr Klaus's re-election and will have to seek support from their coalition partners. The coalition Greens have made it clear that they do not want Mr Klaus's re-election and will field their own candidate.