Coalition leaders weigh options ahead of cabinet resignation

The leaders of the three parties in the coalition government, which is set to step down on Wednesday, have met to discuss further options regarding the current government crisis. Stanislav Gross, the acting head of the Social Democratic party, Pavel Nemec of the Freedom Union, and Miroslav Kalousek of the Christian Democrats, all expressed a willingness on Tuesday for further cooperation, though all conceded they would now have to wait for a decision by Czech President Vaclav Klaus. If he follows constitutional procedure, the president is expected to ask the leader of the largest faction in Parliament, Stanislav Gross, whose Social Democrats have 70 seats, to try and form a new government.

Besides discussing options on Tuesday all three party leaders rejected future cooperation with the Communist Party and praised out-going Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla.