Czech PM starts govt talks, SocDems reject coalition

PRAGUE, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Czech rightist Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek began talks on Friday to form a broad coalition government to take the country to early elections, a move immediately rejected by leftist Social Democrats.

Topolanek, appointed on Wednesday, is trying to form a government that could win a confidence vote in a lower house of parliament deadlocked by leftist and centre-right blocs.

Topolanek and his rightist Civic Democrats agreed with the centrist Christian Democrats on Friday an initiative to create a government with the agreement of four of the five parties in the lower house. Only the communists would be excluded.

"At this point a series of variations exists, and I believe it would be unadvisable to rule out any of them," said Petr Necas, a member of Topolanek's negotiating team.

Part of a deal could include giving the influential house speaker's chair to Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek, Topolanek's bitter rival, politicians said.

But Topolanek barely had time to talk about the agreement before the Social Democrats, who finished second in June election behind the Civic Democrats, rejected the proposal. They say a broad coalition should include all parties in parliament.

They also prefer a written agreement between themselves and the Civic Democrats that would give a minority rightist government their support in exchange for policy concessions and a say in personnel. Most importantly, it would also specify no new elections until the autumn of 2008 at the earliest.

The Civic Democrats, emboldened by sweeping wins in Senate and municipal elections last month, want fresh elections in the spring of 2007.

Under the constitution, there is no time limit for Topolanek to form a government. However, he is expected to move quickly since it has been five months since the election and public patience with the situation is wearing thin. ((Writing by Alan Crosby, editing by Steve Pagani; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477))

Keywords: CZECH POLITICS