Civic Democrat leader concedes grand coalition as post election possibility

The leader of the main centre-right party, the Civic Democrats, and former prime minister Mirek Topolánek said in a television discussion on Sunday that a coalition with its main rival, the left-wing Social Democrats, was a possibility after elections to the lower house of parliament in May. He said however that this would be an emergency step that he did not want. Mr Topolánek said such as step would have to be taken by different leaders to those currently in place. He repeated his pledge to stand down as party leader if he lost the upcoming elections.