Communists set three conditions for confidence in new government

The Communist Party has set three conditions under which it would support a new proposed government. It would have to guarantee better living standards, halt plans to control the budget deficit with the privatisation of the power utility CEZ or any other such institution, and uphold the sovereignty of the state, which they say could be threatened by the presence of foreign bases on Czech territory or too much participation in military missions.

On Tuesday, the first attempt at forming a new government after the June elections failed as the minority Civic Democrat cabinet of Mirek Topolanek lacked enough votes to win a vote of confidence in the lower house of Parliament. The Communists and the country's governors have warmed up to the idea of a caretaker government of independent experts that would lead the country into early elections while former prime minister Jiri Paroubek would like to form a minority government of his Social Democrats, who won the second most votes in June.