RPT-Czech ex-PM sees route to power, centrists say no

(Repeats story published late on Thursday)

By Alan Crosby

PRAGUE, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Czech Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek says he can break the country's political deadlock by forming a minority government capable of winning a confidence vote in parliament.

But Paroubek would not say in the interview with the daily Hospodarske Noviny how he would get a majority in parliament.

His leftist party controls 74 seats and the Communists, whose indirect support is expected, hold 26.

All other parties have said they will not support a government that relies on the votes of the Communists.

"I give it an 80 percent chance (of winning the confidence vote)," the former prime minister told the daily in an excerpt of the interview published on Thursday. The full interview will be published on Friday, the paper added.

Paroubek ruled for around a year until a general election in June which left parliament deadlocked, with leftist and centre-right groups each controlling 100 seats.

Paroubek is hoping to be asked by President Vaclav Klaus to form a government after Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's rightist minority cabinet fell in a confidence vote this week.

Analysts say the president may have no alternative since the centre right failed to win the vote despite four months of talks following the June 2-3 election.

Topolanek's Civic Democrats, with 81 seats, are against Paroubek, and the Green Party, with 6 seats, has said it will not support any government that relies on the Communists.

The Christian Democrats, who showed a split in the ranks by not fully supporting Topolanek in the confidence vote, affirmed on Thursday that they too would not cross the floor.

"The leadership asked all of its deputies to sign a confirmation that they will stick to the decision taken by the party that the Christian Democrats will not participate in a government that relies on the Communists, nor tolerate such a government," party leader Jan Kasal told a news conference.

He said all 13 Christian Democrat deputies signed confirmations.

Klaus, who returns late tonight from a tour of Asian nations, has said he would not name a candidate before local and senate elections, which begin on Oct. 20 and run until Oct. 28.

His aides have said the right-wing president may also push for a government of experts followed by early elections. ((editing by Alison Williams; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477))

Keywords: CZECH POLITICS