Civic Democrats wrap-up weekend Congress

The country's largest opposition party, the right-of-centre Civic Democrats, have wrapped-up a two-day party congress in the Moravian city of Brno, outlining the party's priorities ahead of national elections in 2006. At the weekend, party members criticised the current government coalition, expressing alarm over allegedly growing ties between the ruling Social Democrats and the Communists. On Sunday, Civic Democrat chairman Mirek Topolanek stressed his party would take solutions "directly to the people", and would aim at a positive election campaign.

The Civic Democrats continue to top public opinion polls, but the Social Democrats have been gaining. Both parties have set goals of winning more than 30 percent of the vote next year.