Agreement on new Czech govt must be completed by Sunday-Paroubek

He rejected the idea of the outgoing centre-right cabinet, which was toppled in a no-confidence vote last week, governing the country until the end of the Czech EU presidency in late June.

Czech parties have been discussing the establishment of a cabinet of unaffiliated experts that would start ruling in May and would lead the country to early elections.

This morning Paroubek discussed the situation with outgoing Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek (Civic Democrats, ODS) and he also met Vojtech Filip, head of the junior opposition Communists (KSCM).

"Maybe they want to negotiate. If so, they will reach agreement with us quickly. If they don't want to negotiate, let them say it. If so, things would be simply solved in a usual constitutional way," Paroubek told journalists.

He was referring to the government-forming talks between the CSSD, Topolanek's ODS and the two junior government partners, the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) and the Greens.

Paroubek said in his opinion agreement is feasible.

Nevertheless, he pointed out that once before, the negotiations that seemed to be developing favourably, were "annulled unilaterally."

He alluded to Topolanek's statement that he would not allow himself to be blackmailed by Paroubek, which he made after a stormy meeting of the ODS deputies' group on Wednesday.

Paroubek said the KDU-CSL's proposal that the outgoing government continue working is unrealistic.

"The government must end. The sooner the better," Paroubek said.

The ODS would like to conclude a definitive agreement on the new government after Sunday's visit by U.S. President Barack Obama in Prague.

Autor: ČTK
www.ctk.cz