Czech ex-PM still hopes for chance to form govt

PRAGUE, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Czech Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek reiterated on Thursday that he wanted a chance to break political deadlock by trying to form a government capable of winning a confidence vote in parliament.

Paroubek would not say how he would get a majority in parliament, but after a meeting with President Vaclav Klaus he said he saw a chance of succeeding.

The former PM's leftist party controls 73 seats and the Communists, whose indirect support is expected, hold 26 in the 200-seat lower house.

One Social Democrat deputy has left the party and now sits as an independent. All other parties have said they will not support a government that relies on the votes of the Communists.

"We (the Social Democrats) would like to get our own chance (to form a government), which we think has a realistic chance," Paroubek told journalists.

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 Klaus to form a government after Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's rightist minority cabinet fell in a confidence vote last month.

Klaus has urged leaders from the five parliamentary parties to reach a quick deal to end the stalemate, which has not hit financial markets because the country's economy is booming.

Paroubek said Klaus did not comment on his wish to be given a chance to form a government and the Civic Democrats brushed aside the proposal as a bluff to try and force concessions.

"He's playing political poker," Civic Democrat Deputy Chairman Petr Necas was quoted by the news Web site iDnes (www.idnes.cz) as saying. ((Reporting 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