News

The outgoing Finance Minister Vlastimil Tlusty has decided to take legal action against the head of the European Democrats, a small right-wing party, MEP Jana Hybaskova, for having accused him of corruption without producing sufficient evidence. He told reporters on Thursday he would demand 5 million crowns. Jana Hybaskova has already apologised to Justice Minister Jiri Pospisil. Just before the Senate and local elections Mrs. Hybaskova accused the Civic Democratic Party of having asked for a three-million-crown bribe in a certain transaction - money which was allegedly intended for two Civic Democratic Party ministers and a deputy for that party.

The arrival of first snow in the Czech Republic as well as freezing temperatures overnight have caused traffic accidents mainly on the D1 motorway between Prague and Brno as many drivers were caught off-guard. A 60-year-old man froze to death outside his house near Brno after drinking alcohol - the second victim of the season, according to the police. In previous days, snow appeared only on the mountaintops in the Czech Republic while on Thursday, larger areas across the country were covered by a thin layer.

As part of a round of new meetings with political party leaders, President Vaclav Klaus has met with Christian Democratic leader, Jan Kasal. The two men met at Prague Castle on Wednesday morning to discuss possibilities of forming a new government. Mr. Kasal told the press that the Christian Democrats are in favor of an agreement that would include the Social Democrats, because this is the only way to avoid depending on the support of the Communist MPs in the lower house. The Christian Democrats are in favor of what they are calling a "rainbow cabinet" that would join the Civic Democrats and the Social Democrats, with the Christian Democrats playing a key mediating role between the two largest parties.

Early Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Klaus also met with acting Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek. Mr. Topolanek says that the two men did not discuss who the President will charge with the second attempt to form a viable government. Mr. Topolanek's aim is to find an agreement between parties that would lead the country to early elections. The Civic Democrats' position on early elections has been publicly supported by the Christian Democrats as well as by the Green Party and the Communists. Only the Social Democrats have not yet agreed with this strategy as a way to overcome the political stalemate.

Meanwhile, President Klaus has not expressed his preference in terms of a solution to the political stalemate, but he has indicated that he wants to see a government that will lead the Czech Republic to early elections, and be able to win a vote of confidence in the meantime. Mr. Klaus will continue individual meetings with party leaders until Friday, when he has invited all five parliamentary party leaders to a meeting at Prague Castle.

The Social Democrats will not support a proposal to dissolve the lower house and allow early elections - a step that would be permitted with a constitutional amendment suggested by Green Party leader, Martin Bursik. Deputy Chairman of the Social Democrats, Bohuslav Sobotka, confirmed his party's position following a Wednesday afternoon meeting between Social Democratic leader Jiri Paroubek, and Green Party leader Martin Bursik. According to Mr. Bursik, the Social Democrats are pushing for the second attempt at government formation to fail, so that they will be charged with the third and final effort. Mr. Sobotka told reporters that the Social Democrats will consider early elections only after the third attempt at government formation is exhausted.