Topolanek and Paroubek commit to meetings

Meeting on Wednesday morning, Civic Democratic leader Mirek Topolanek and Social Democratic leader Jiri Paroubek, have agreed to begin a new round of talks to resolve the post-election stalemate. Both men say it's too soon to speak of early elections, and Mr. Paroubek told reporters that an agreement between the two biggest Czech parties could surface within two weeks. Mr. Topolanek and Mr. Paroubek will conduct a series of meetings in the coming days.

It has been two months since the early June elections ended in a political stalemate, and efforts at a three-party coalition between the Civic Democrats, the Social Democrats, and the Greens leave these parties one seat short of a governing majority. In recent days, the Social Democrats have indicated strong opposition to the three-party coalition, thus rendering its possible government highly unlikely.