Civic Democrats call on Klaus to entrust formation of new government to Topolánek

The Civic Democrats, the strongest party in the lower house, want Czech President Václav Klaus to task outgoing Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek with forming a new government. The party leadership reacted to Mr Klaus’s decision on Thursday to entrust whoever was able to secure 101 votes in Parliament with forming the new cabinet. The Civic Democratic Party executive council agreed on Thursday that Mirek Topolánek was the only party member with a mandate to form a new government. It also recommended that MPs Vlastimil Tlustý and Jan Schwippel be expelled from the party; the two voted with the opposition in the no-confidence vote on Tuesday.