Christian Democrats will not actively support minority government

Following talks with the Civic Democratic Party on Tuesday, the acting chairman of the Christian Democratic Party Jan Kasal said his party would not actively support a minority Civic Democrat cabinet. Mr. Kasal said that once the new cabinet was unveiled his party would decide whether to vote against it or tolerate it by leaving the chamber during a vote of confidence. There is no question of active support, we are not in favour of early elections, Mr. Kasal told journalists. Former Christian Democrat leader Miroslav Kalousek, who resigned last week after a rank and file rebellion over the prospect of cooperating with the Communists, was not on the negotiating team. Three deputy chairmen resigned in his wake, accepting co-responsibility for a bad decision. The party's negotiating team is now led by the former first deputy chairman Jan Kasal who will serve as acting chairman until the party elects a new leadership at a national conference in December.