Klaus’s invitation to Paroubek and Topolánek annoys smaller parties

Meanwhile, Mr Klaus has also invited the leaders of the two biggest Czech parties to a lunch at the start of what will be an election year. His invitation to the Social Democrats Jiří Paroubek and the Civic Democrats Mirek Topolánek has been criticised by leaders of the other parties in the Czech Parliament. The chairman of the new right-of-centre grouping TOP 09 Karel Schwarzenberg said it was no surprise, as the president was in favour of a coalition of the two biggest parties. For his part, Communist Party leader Vojtěch Filip said the invitation amounted to “constitutional excess”.