Opposition leader confidant agreement on interim government will be reached

Opposition Social Democrat leader Jiří Paroubek has said the Czech Republic's main parties should agree on a new cabinet by Sunday - one that would complete the EU presidency and lead the country to early elections. Mr Paroubek said in an interview he saw a "cabinet of experts" as the only way out of a political gridlock after a no-confidence vote last week that toppled the country’s minority centre-right government. Some have argued that the government’s collapse has undermined its position as the holder of the EU presidency, while strengthening the role of euro sceptic President Václav Klaus. The plan for a technocratic government has raised protests from some in Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek's Civic Democratic Party, who say the outgoing prime minister had made too many concessions to the opposition.

Author: Jan Velinger