Parties split on way out of crisis, early polls unlikely - Klaus

Topolanek, too, said the ODS is preparing for the regular general election next spring.

After Topolanek's government fell in a no-confidence vote this spring, the parties in parliament agreed to seek early elections this autumn. However, on Tuesday the Social Democrats (CSSD) surprisingly blocked the lower house's planned dissolution that was to lead to the polls in November.

Klaus said he wants to meet Jan Fischer, head of the caretaker government, today or on Friday.

Fischer's cabinet was established in May to lead the country to the autumn early elections.

On Wednesday, Klaus met Jiri Paroubek, chairman of the other strongest party, the Social Democrats (CSSD).

"After meeting the two strongest parties' chairmen I arrived at the conclusion that agreement between the parties on ways to solve the situation following the Constitutional Court's (US) decision is very, very low," Klaus said.

He said he would like politicians to reach elementary consensus on the necessity to make it clear to Fischer's government that it can govern and need not be afraid to make important decisions.

Klaus said he shares Topolanek's opinion that the 2010 state budget should be as austere as possible.

Topolanek reiterated that the cabinet should link the parliament's confidence vote with the budget vote.

To explain the blocking of the early polls by the CSSD, Paroubek on Tuesday said, citing lawyers, that the legislation enabling the polls is challengeable and could be abolished by the US as was the previous law under which early polls were to be held in October.

Klaus on Wednesday said he shared Paroubek's opinion that elections should not be held unless they are unchallengeable afterwards.

Nevertheless, he indicated that he does not give up the idea of elections being held sooner than in the regular term next May.

Autor: ČTK
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