Czech government not to back up direct presidential elections

The Czech government will not back up Social Democrats’ proposal to introduce direct presidential elections, Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said after the cabinet meeting on Wednesday. Mr Topolanek said the introduction of the popular vote was unfeasible without previous negotiations. Nevertheless, the government is ready to discuss the issue, as two of the three ruling parties, the Greens and the Christian Democrats, support the idea. Even if the cabinet supported the amendment to the Constitution, the popular vote would fall into consideration only in 2013.