Paroubek admits possible grand coalition, Topolanek dismisses it

Social Democrat leader and former Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek has admitted that his party and the Civic Democrats could start discussing a grand coalition but he said he himself would not take part in it. Speaking in a lunchtime discussion programme on Czech Television on Sunday, Mr Paroubek said he would only remain chairman of the Social Democratic Party. Prime Minister and head of the Civic Democrats Mirek Topolanek dismissed such an option.