Spidla - Key negotiations on Havel successor after Jan 15 vote

Prime Minister Spidla also said on Friday he expected key negotiations on finding a successor to President Vaclav Havel to take place after January 15th, when the two houses of parliament meet in a joint session to elect a new president. Mr Spidla said talks between the parties in parliament had not secured sufficient support for any of the official candidates to win in the first attempt. Mr Spidla has in the past not ruled out changing the constitution to allow a direct election if the January 15 vote fails to choose a successor to Mr Havel, who retires on February 2nd after 13 years in the post.