Paroubek links non-aggression pact to early elections and Lisbon treaty

Opposition leader Jiří Paroubek has said his conditions for a non-aggression pact with the government during the country’s EU presidency are early elections and the ratification of the Lisbon treaty with no strings attached. The Social Democrat leader was referring to the fact that some Civic Democrat deputies had attempted to link the ratification of the Lisbon treaty to the fate of the US radar on Czech soil. Mr. Paroubek said the idea of a barter trade was non-negotiable. His other condition for a non-aggression pact with the government during the country’s EU presidency was a pledge that early elections would take place before the end of 2009. Regular elections are scheduled to take place in June of 2010. Coalition leaders have indicated that Mr. Paroubek is asking too high a price. The leader of the Green Party Martin Bursík said that under the circumstances the government would have to do without a non-aggression pact.