Topolanek and Paroubek hold surprise meeting

Civic Democratic chairman Mirek Topolanek and Social Democratic chairman Jiri Paroubek met on Wednesday morning at the official residence of the prime minister. The two men—Mr. Topolanek as prime minister designate and Mr. Paroubek, the outgoing prime minister—are in the midst of intense negotiations over the formation of a new government. The Wednesday morning meeting came as a surprise, after Tuesday's scuffles over where a meeting between the two men would take place, and who was to be present. The Civic Democrats are currently trying to secure support for a minority government from the Social Democratic Party. Both Mr. Topolanek and Mr. Paroubek have now expressed confidence in a possible solution to the political deadlock, saying that it could be a matter of only a few more days.