Civic Democrats want "appropriate relations" with Zeman but reject call for early elections

The Civic Democrats have said they wish to have "appropriate relations" with president-elect Miloš Zeman and to cooperate with him in the fields of foreign and security policy. However, they rejected his view that early elections should be held. Reacting to suggestions that Mr. Zeman could dismiss him once in office, Prime Minister Petr Necaš said such a move would represent an illegitimate constitutional putsch; he said only the lower house had the power to call early elections.

Within hours of his victory on Saturday, Mr. Zeman questioned the legitimacy of the unpopular government, partly because it contains LIDEM, a breakaway group from the disgraced Public Affairs party.

Author: Ian Willoughby