Czech President says will wait to nominate new PM

PRAGUE, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Czech President Vaclav Klaus reiterated on Friday that he would not name a new prime minister until the end of the month at the earliest, following local and Senate elections.

Klaus, who met outgoing Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek for the first time since his government lost a parliamentary confidence vote on Tuesday, said he expected the cabinet to formally resign next Wednesday.

"I am saying in advance that I will accept the resignation, there's no reason not to. Naturally I expect the government to continue its functions until there is a solution to the current situation," Klaus told journalists after meeting Topolanek.

He added that while he would hold a first round of meetings with leaders from political parties after receiving the resignation, "I don't expect to take any further steps before the local and Senate elections".

Since a June 2-3 general election parliament has been deadlocked, with leftist and centre-right parties each controlling 100 seats.

The local elections on Oct. 20-21, and the Senate vote on the same weekend -- with a second round scheduled for Oct. 27-28 -- will not directly impact the situation in the lower house.

Politicians are watching the results to see if the four-month long stalemate has hurt their parties, and whether they would fare better or worse if early elections were held.

Klaus did not take any questions at Friday's news conference, and did not indicate who he is considering as the next possible prime minister. He has said previously that any candidate must be able to show they have majority support.

Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek, who ruled for around a year until the general election in June, said on Thursday he was sure he could win a confidence vote in the lower house, but he did not say where he would get the support needed to do so.

His leftist party controls 74 seats and the Communists, whose indirect support is expected, hold 26. But all other parties have said they will not support a government that relies on the votes of the Communists. If they hold to their word, that means Paroubek has 100 votes in the 200-seat house.

Klaus' aides have said the right-wing president may try to push for a government of experts followed by early elections if it becomes clear that there is no chance to form a majority government. ((Writing by Alan Crosby; Editing by Elizabeth Piper; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477))

Keywords: CZECH POLITICS