Civic Democrats want coalition to continue

The senior ruling Civic Democrats want to approach the coalition LIDEM group to discuss ways of saving the current government. After a meeting of Civic Democrat leadership on Friday, Prime Minister Petr Nečas said negotiations with the LIDEM party could start early next month. Mr Nečas also said party leadership backed his decision to dismiss LIDEM leader Karolína Peake from the post of the defence minister, a move that triggered the latest government crisis. In a reaction to Ms Peake’s dismissal, the LIDEM party called on its two other government ministers to step down as of January 10.