Fischer rejects SZ's request for new debate with parties on govt

Fischer "believes that they are politicians who should reach mutual agreement," his spokesman Roman Prorok said.

If party leaders do not agree and the Greens withdraw from the agreement of parties, representatives of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and the Social Democrats (CSSD) will reach consensus on the filling of the post of culture minister, Prorok said.

The Greens want the composition of the interim government to be cleared up.

The Greens said if the disputes over the candidates for ministers were not resolved, they would withdraw from the three parties' agreement on the interim cabinet.

Bursik had discussed the Greens' reservations with ODS leader Mirek Topolanek and Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek, but as his demands were rejected, he wanted Fischer to intervene.

Bursik said the previous talks had not been sufficiently transparent.

It would be the best solution if the agreement of April 5 be updated so that only the parties which want to assist in the formation of the government were included, Bursik said.

According to the original agreement of the four parties, the current center-right coalition was to nominate eight candidates and the opposition CSSD seven.

However, as the KDU-CSL has pulled out from the understanding, the situation has changed.

Fischer was originally to announce his cabinet's line-up today. The appointment of the cabinet is expected on May 8.

The Greens and the ODS have parallelly nominated their candidates for the posts of education and culture ministers. Paroubek says one of the vacant posts should go to the CSSD.

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