Nedelni Svet: Outgoing PM rejects possibility of early elections

Outgoing Social Democrat Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek has ruled out early elections as a way out of the political stalemate that followed results of the general election last month. Mr Paroubek made the statement in an interview for the Czech Sunday paper "Nedelni Svet", stressing that - in his view - all five parliamentary parties, including the Communists, should have a say in negotiating the next government's programme. In Mr Paroubek's view, concessions need to be made on all sides. The Civic Democratic Party which won last month's election and agreed on a centre-right coalition with the Christian Democrats and the Greens, has been trying to negotiate a deal with the opposition to support the coalition in a confidence vote - but so far without success. The proposed coalition is one mandate short of the needed majority.

Rivals, the Social Democrats, have instead renewed calls for a caretaker government.

Author: Jan Velinger