Social Democrats want chairmanship of the lower house

The Social Democratic Party continues to take the position that one of its members should become the new chairman of the Chamber of Deputies. The Social Democrats came second in the recent elections, and say that they deserve to fill this important administrative post. The Social Democratic leadership says that it will not exchange this position for support of Mirek Topolanek's proposed Civic Democratic-led coalition government.

According to deputy party leader Zdenek Skromach, the Social Democractic leader, Jiri Paroubek, is considered a front-runner for the chairman's post by his own party. Czech law does not allow for the posts of prime minister and chairman of the lower house to be held simultaneously, which is something that Mr. Paroubek does not consider problematic. Until a new government is formed, Mr. Paroubek remains the Prime Minister.