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The Civic Democratic Party reacted to the news on Monday, calling the president’s plan to name an interim government an attempt to bypass the Constitution. The Civic Democrats noted that no support for an interim government had been negotiated beforehand, saying this would be the first cabinet named without the support of any of the parliamentary parties. The opposition parties were among those against an interim government, while the centre-right coalition wanted a chance to form a new government under a new prime minister.

The Civic Democrats are continuing to back their own nominee, the speaker of the lower house Miroslava Němcová, for the post. If the president pushes for an interim government, senior party members said earlier they would begin discussing the possibility of early elections.

The leader of the Communist Party, Vojtěch Filip, called President Zeman’s intention on Monday to designate a candidate of his own choosing to head a government of experts “legitimate” but said it was only a “short-term” solution. The way out, he suggested, was early elections as soon as possible. Mr Filip and fellow opposition party leader Bohuslav Sobotka both voiced support for early elections when they met with the president at the weekend. Mr Zeman appears intent on naming a caretaker cabinet, at the very least to fulfil an election promise to end the Nečas government. Mr Zeman said on Czech Radio at the weekend that his more than three million voters would “not be disappointed”.

Police have charged three people with assault and disorderly conduct in connection to violent developments in Duchcov in the Teplice area on Saturday that followed an extremist demonstration. Another eight people were charged with misdemeanours. In the incident, right-wing extremists tried to break through a police line, throwing stones and bottles. The riot police used tear gas and a water cannon in response. A police spokeswoman revealed that eleven officers were injured; none of the officers had to be hospitalised.

Presale tickets offered online for the 48th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival were reserved or sold out in less than half-an-hour on Monday. Ten percent of overall tickets became available at 10 in the morning. Regular counter sales begin on Thursday, a day before the start of the festival. This year more than 200 films will be screened; top stars attending will include French actress Audrey Tautou (Amélie, The Da Vinci Code) and American actor John Travolta (Saturday Night Fever, Get Shorty, Pulp Fiction).