Government negotitations head back to the drawing board

Prague, Oct 3 (CTK) - Politicians will start practically from scratch in their negotiations on government now, exactly four months after the general election ended in a right-left draw as the Civic Democrat (ODS) minority government of Mirek Topolanek failed to win confidence in the lower house today.

The government will resign probably next week. The Civic Democrats expect President Vaclav Klaus to entrust them also with the second attempt to form a government, but the Social Democrats (CSSD), the second strongest party, also want to have a chance.

Klaus, who is currently on a business trip to Asia, reacted to the freshest developments today saying that he will appoint a new prime minister only after the Senate and local elections in end of October.

Klaus´s advisers have indicated that Klaus is going to be more active in the negotiations of political parties about the future government, and some indicated that he might prefer a caretaker government that would take the country to early elections.

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