Alternative candidate for president to be found by September

Jiri Paroubek, the chairman of the major opposition party of social democrats, says talks are under way with the Green party as well as with the Christian democrats about a possible candidate for the presidential elections scheduled for early next year. According to Mr Paroubek, the parties should arrive at an agreement concerning a prospective candidate by mid-September. Current president Vaclav Klaus had already announced his candidacy and he gained the support of the civic democrats, the winners of last year's elections and leading party in the government.