In related news, Mirek Topolanek met officially with the head of the
Social Democratic Party, Jiri Paroubek, on Friday to discuss possible
support for the new government - which otherwise lacks the majority
needed to pass a confidence vote. While the two men reportedly failed
to clinch a deal so far, they have not closed the door on further
talks. Earlier Mr Paroubek said the planned centre-right cabinet could
win his backing but listed tough programme conditions that Mr Topolanek
has refused to accept. According to some analysts, the Social Democrats
may prefer to let the government fall in a confidence vote, but later
agree to tolerate a Civic Democrat-only minority cabinet. That would
theoretically allow the left-of-centre party greater influence on
policy.
Parliament is to begin meeting on June 27th. But, talks between all
five parties in the lower house on how to divide up committees and key
positions, such as speaker of the lower house, are continuing. Election
of the speaker is a precondition for the old government to step aside
to make way for the new.