Possibility of grand coalition not favoured

The Civic Democratic leadership, which is currently in the process of trying to secure support for a governing mandate, does not see a grand coalition with the Social Democrats as a viable option. Mirek Topolanek, the chairman of the Civic Democratic Party, says that this would go against the wishes of party members, as well as voters. At present, the Civic Democrats are in the process of negotiating a coalition with the Christian Democrats and the Greens, though this solution would still leave them with only 100 seats in the 200-seat lower house.

Over the weekend, all 74 newly-elected Social Democratic MPs signed a declaration vowing not to support a coalition led by Mr. Topolanek. Over the weekend, Social Democratic leader Mr. Paroubek said that he envisions a new Czech government will be formed by August.

Since the Velvet Revolution in late 1989, every election victor in the Czech Republic has managed to form a government.