Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek put forward a four-party coalition plan on Tuesday as a means of resolving his country's prolonged governmental deadlock, which has persisted since parliamentary elections in June.
Topolanek's conservative Civic Democrats (ODS) won those elections but fell short of a parliamentary majority, leaving the country without a permanent government. President Vaclav Klaus tasked Topolanek with assembling a government capable of winning parliamentary confidence by next month.
The proposed coalition would bring together ODS, the Social Democrats (CSSD), the Christian Democrats (KDU), and the Greens (SZ), with Topolanek serving as prime minister. The communists, despite being the country's third-largest party, would be excluded.
Topolanek set aside an earlier ODS push for elections in 2007, a concession to CSSD leader Jiri Paroubek, who had opposed that timetable. Under the new plan, elections would be held in 2009, a year ahead of the regular schedule. Topolanek planned to present the proposal to President Klaus on Wednesday.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.