Social Democrats confirm they will not back centre-right coalition government

The Social Democrats have confirmed that they will not support a centre-right government led by the Civic Democratic Party, which won last week's general election. Members from both parties met officially for the first time on Friday to discuss possibilities for the country's future. The Civic Democrats have been negotiating to form a centre-right government with the Christian Democrats, and the Greens, but any such coalition will be one mandate short of the majority needed in the lower house. After coming in second in the election last week the Social Democrats under Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek said that they would only be willing to support a caretaker government, and on Friday Jiri Paroubek reiterated that the party had not changed its stance. Mirek Topolanek, the head of the Civic Democrats, has pointed out that Friday's meeting was only the beginning of negotiations.

Author: Jan Velinger