Government talks to start after Civic Democratic Party conference

The Civic Democrat Party leadership has said serious talks on a new government will have to wait until after the party's national conference this weekend. Although Mirek Topolanek has strong backing within the party, and is likely to be re-elected leader, there are conflicting opinions on the length of the future government's mandate and the timing of the next general elections. Party leader Topolanek said on Tuesday that he was not ruling out elections in 2009, but only on condition that the government would have a reform program.