Civic Democrat leader warns caretaker PM not to turn left

Civic Democrat leader Mirek Topolánek has warned caretaker Prime Minister Jan Fischer that if his cabinet should embrace a left-wing policy programme for the six months during which it is expected to govern the country then those ministers nominated by the Civic Democratic Party would walk out. Mr. Topolánek made the statement in a debate on Czech Television ahead of a planned meeting of party leaders who are expected to discuss the mandate of the caretaker government. The Civic Democrats have repeatedly criticized the Fischer cabinet for overstepping its bounds. Most recently they demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Martin Pecina for personnel changes he had made at the ministry, which he said were of a political nature. The prime minister defended minister Pecina saying that the changes he had made were fully within his competences.