Outgoing Social Democratic prime minister, Jiri Paroubek, has confirmed
that he intends to press for early elections to the lower house in 2008.
Mr. Paroubek made the statements during a televised interview on Sunday,
saying that he does not want to allow a minority Civic Democratic
government to govern until 2009, when the Czech Republic will hold the
presidency of the European Union. The Social Democratic chairman was
reacting to his rival, the chairman of the Civic Democratic Party, Mirek
Topolanek, who does not agree with the notion that the next government's
mandate should end before the EU presidency term finishes in June 2009.
Earlier, Mr. Paroubek had expressed the opinion that early elections would
not hurt the Czech Republic's success during the EU presidency rotation.
Mr. Topolanek and Mr. Paroubek are due to meet on Monday to discuss the
conditions for Social Democratic support for a minority Civic Democratic
government. Mr. Paroubek wants to approve key ministry postings and two
possible Civic Democratic candidates are problematic for him: Alexander
Vondra and Ivan Langer, who have been tipped as candidates for foreign
minister and interior minister, respectively.