Czech president urges parties to reach quick deal

PRAGUE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Czech President Vaclav Klaus urged leaders from the five parliamentary parties on Tuesday to reach a quick deal after an inconclusive June general election.

Outgoing rightist Prime Minister Topolanek has been pushing for early elections next spring to end the stalemate in the lower house, where centre-right parties and leftist parties each control exactly half of the 200 seats.

Klaus told journalists he would meet leaders from all parties on Nov. 3.

"I have noticed with pleasure over the past two days that political parties launched a new round of intensive mutual consultations. I expect them to bring some results," Klaus said.

"I repeat that as president I seek a government, even if it rules only for the period until potential early elections, that has the confidence of the lower house," he said, rejecting any solution that does not ensure a cabinet with majority support.

Klaus named Topolanek as prime minister last month. His minority government subsequently lost a confidence vote in parliament.

Topolanek has said he favours an interim government of experts that would have a limited agenda, before an early election next spring.

The Social Democrats, the second strongest party in parliament, have opposed an election next year, apparently concerned by declining approval ratings. They have said they could accept fresh polls in the autumn of 2008.

Analysts said their weakened position following recent municipal elections leaves few options but to bargain over the election's timing.

"This (recent election results) might open a new door to early elections and overcome the problem of other methods that are rather lengthy or hardly applicable," said Pavel Sobisek, chief economist at HVB Bank in Prague.

The Civic Democrats hold 81 seats in the lower house while the Social Democrats have 73. The centrist Christian Democrats have 13, the Communists have 26 seats and the Green Party 6 seats. One former Social Democrat deputy is independent. ((Reporting by Alan Crosby and Jan Korselt, editing by Robert Woodward; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477))

Keywords: CZECH POLITICS KLAUS