Parties weigh options in on-going government negotiations

Czech political parties are weighing a variety of options in government negotiations being headed by Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's right-of-centre Civic Democrats. On Friday Civic Democratic party officials met with Christian Democrats to discuss a possible "rainbow coalition" excluding only the Communists. The idea has already been rejected by the Social Democrats.

Meanwhile, the Communist Party on Friday suggested that while it would prefer supporting a centre-left government, it would be willing to agree on an interim government including all parties, provided the cabinet's main aim would be to lead the country to early elections.