Czech party to seek early poll to end stalemate

CZECH REPUBLIC: The Czech Republic's centre-right Civic Democrats are set to propose an interim government and early elections as the only way to escape an impasse that has paralysed political decision-making in the country since it went to the polls three months ago.

The vote, which followed a campaign of daily mud-slinging and even a fist fight between rivals, gave 100 parliamentary seats to leftist parties and 100 seats to those from the right, creating deadlock in subsequent talks to form a ruling coalition.

The leftist party of outgoing premier Jiri Paroubek, which came second in the elections, has blocked Civic Democrat (ODS) attempts to form a right-wing alliance with the Christian Democrats and Greens, and refuses to enter a coalition with the ODS unless it abandons key campaign promises to overhaul the tax and welfare systems.

But with polls suggesting that most Czechs blame Mr Paroubek for the current stalemate, he is reluctant to agree to the early elections now being mooted by the ODS.

"Jiri Paroubek has no hope of [ forming] a government of his own," said prime minister designate Mirek Topolanek of ODS .

"I think [ elections] should be held as soon as possible. The acceptable time period is from April to June next year," the ODS leader said. "I do not believe there is any possibility of forming a fully-fledged, political, agreed government for a longer period." Speaking on national television, Mr Topolanek pledged to submit his cabinet nominations to President Vaclav Klaus on Friday.

He said the government could include members of all the parties in parliament except the communists; officials from his party and some independent experts; or it could be a purely technocratic government without party affiliation.

Mr Paroubek, in response, called on the ODS to form a minority government until after local and senate elections in late October. Mr Topolanek fears such an administration would be perpetually stymied in parliament by the Social Democrats.

"Until those elections on October 20th, 21st, I do not see any alternative to the existence of a Civic Democrat minority government," he said.