MP calls on others "offered bribes" to speak out

Freedom Union MP Zdenek Koristka, who says he was offered a bribe by the opposition Civic Democrats to bring down the government, has called on other coalition deputies who have had similar experiences to say so publicly. Mr Koristka says the Civic Democrats offered him 10 million crowns (over 300,000 euros) not to support the government in a vote of confidence on Tuesday.

The party strongly denies the claim, and chairman Mirek Topolanek said he was considering filing slander charges over the matter, which is currently being investigated by the police.

President Vaclav Klaus commented on the issue on Sunday, saying he knew Mr Koristka and did not regard him as completely trustworthy. Mr Klaus said he hoped people would think twice before starting "artificial affairs".

Tuesday's confidence vote will be the first test of the three-party coalition led by Stanislav Gross, which - like the previous government - has a majority of just one seat in the Chamber of Deputies. Two Social Democrat MPs are seriously ill and may not make the vote.

On Sunday, senior Civic Democrat Vlastimil Tlusty said the party would consider "pairing" with one of the ill deputies, Hana Orgonikova, thus cancelling out her lost vote. But he said his party would not pair with Miloslav Vlcek, who has been ill for a long time and had "plenty of time" to resign his seat.