Talks on caretaker government continue

Talks on the composition of a caretaker government which would rule the country until early elections planned for the autumn continued over the weekend with a statement expected late on Sunday. Representatives of the ruling coalition and the opposition Social Democrats are hoping to reach agreement on a prime minister designate and 16 members of cabinet, a proposal that would be presented to the president on Monday. The ruling parties and the opposition were forced to cooperate on producing a new government after President Klaus said that he would not consider naming a prime minister designate anyone who did not have majority support in the lower house. The alternative is that President Klaus himself would put together a transitional cabinet of his own choice. The caretaker cabinet now being compiled by the coalition and opposition parties is likely to consist of career diplomats and non-partisan experts.