PM meets opposition MPs to discuss government policy statement

Prime Minister and Civic Democrat chairman Mirek Topolanek has met several Social Democrat MPs to discuss the policy statement of his new coalition government that is to ask for a confidence vote this Friday. Civic Democrat MP Petr Tluchor, who also took part in the talks on Monday, would not disclose the number or names of the Social Democrat deputies present at the meeting. However, Social Democrat chairman Jiri Paroubek said in a statement on Monday afternoon he did not know about any such MPs. The centre-right coalition of the Civic Democrats, the Christian Democrats and the Greens has only 100 votes in the 200-seat lower house of parliament. Without the backing or tolerance from the opposition ranks it does not have a chance to win confidence from the chamber.