Czech leftist deputy quits party caucus -CTK

PRAGUE, Oct 25 (Reuters) - A Czech Social Democrat member of parliament has quit his party's caucus, the news agency CTK reported on Wednesday, creating room to end a deadlock in the lower house that resulted from an inconclusive June election.

The lower house has been in a stalemate since the June vote when the leftist Social Democrats and the Communists won 100 seats, exactly the same number as three centre-right parties.

The political gridlock has caused a minority cabinet of the right-wing Civic Democrats to lose a confidence vote earlier this month and raised the prospect of an early election next year.

CTK gave no reason for the departure of the deputy, Michal Pohanka, from the Social Democrat fold, nor if he planned to join any other parliamentary caucus or sit as an independent in the 200-seat lower house.

President Vaclav Klaus has said he would not accept a deal on forming a government which would be based on support from an individual deputy crossing the floor. Instead, the rightist president has said he wants an agreement among political parties to create a strong and stable government. ((Reporting by Jan Lopatka, prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: jan.lopatka.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420-224 190 474))

Keywords: CZECH POLITICS