President Klaus holds talks with party leaders

President Vaclav Klaus has met with leaders of all five major political parties—the Civic Democrats, the Social Democrats, the Christian Democrats, the Communists and the Greens—in an attempt to find a solution to the current political deadlock. Mr. Klaus says that his main agenda during Wednesday morning's talks at Prague Castle was to convince the leaders of the importance of electing a chairperson of the lower house on Monday. There have already been six failed attempts since the elections in early June. Mr. Klaus says that it is important for the leaders to consider the post-election negotiations in two steps: the first being unblocking the lower house, and the second being negotiations over a new government. The five leaders are scheduled to meet with President Klaus again on Friday.