Communists won't put forward their own presidential candidate

Communist Party leader Vojtech Filip told journalists on Friday that his party will not officially propose its own candidate for next year's presidential elections, but that they favoured certain contenders whom they would like to discuss with other political parties.

Mr Filip did not rule out any of the names discussed by the other parties such as the chairman of the Czech Academy of Sciences Vaclav Paces, former Czechoslovak foreign minister Jiri Dienstbier, Senate deputy chairman Petr Pithart and economist Jan Svejnar. Nevertheless, the Communist leader did add that the fact Mr Svejnar did not live in the Czech Republic would put him at a this country."

Mr Filip said his party had a number of criteria for considering presidential candidates including their views on such topics as the future development of the EU and the government's recent economic reforms. He added that any potential candidate's attitude to a proposed US radar base in the Czech Republic and his or her support for a referendum on the issue would also be a major consideration. Vojtech Filip's party has consistently demanded that a public vote be held on the possible establishment of the US radar facility in the Czech Republic.

The Communist Party is currently in talks with the Social Democrats, the Greens and the Christian Democrats on the possibility of fielding a joint presidential candidate to challenge current incumbent Vaclav Klaus.

Author: Coilin O'Connor