President Klaus launches talks with party leaders

President Václav Klaus will start talks about the formation of a future government with all five leaders of parties which made it into the lower house. The round of talks will begin with the leader of the Social Democrats, Bohuslav Sobotka, on Monday. The party gained most votes and seats in elections to the lower house on Friday and Saturday but looks like having little chance of creating a workable coalition. The President’s spokesman said talks would continue with leaders of the parties with the next best results.

President Klaus had raised some questions over whether he would follow precedent and give the leader of the biggest party in the lower house a first shot at forming a government. Asked about whether he would follow this traditional procedure on Saturday, president Klaus said: "I think it will be this way, but we all well know that it may get tangled up. We'll see who will be second, third, fourth, and what their strength is." Previously he had clearly signalled he would follow precedent and his own previous practice.

Author: Chris Johnstone