Speaking on a Sunday TV news programme the leader of the Social
Democrats Jiri Paroubek has said he thought the Czech Republic could
have a new stable government by early December. Mr Paroubek said he
favoured his party participating in a yet-to-be negotiated government
led by Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, but said that he himself would
not seek a cabinet post. By contrast, on Sunday Mr Topolanek told
public broadcaster Czech TV that he would not predict when the new
government would be formed, but said that he will keep President Vaclav
Klaus informed on the latest developments. The newly re-elected Civic
Democrat chairman has asked his party to give him a mandate ruling out
exclusive cooperation with the Social Democrats and is looking for a
solution involving one to four parties, in other words all the
non-communist parties in parliament.