PM comments on Germany's elections

Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek of the Social Democrats has said the election results in neighbouring Germany could be motivating for his party and inspiring for the voters. Prime Minister Paroubek emphasised the fact that Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats got only three seats fewer than the Christian Democrats whom pre-election opinion polls had suggested would be the clear winners. Mr Paroubek also said such a balanced election result in Germany was favourable for Czech national interests and could not be expected to bring any changes in Czech-German relations.