Czech rightists reject exclusive talks with left

PRAGUE, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's rightist Civic Democrats have refused an offer from the leftist Social Demcorats to hold exclusive talks on support for a government, a senior Civic Democrat said on Thursday.

Topolanek, appointed on Wednesday, faces a tough task to cobble together a government that could win a parliamentary confidence vote because both leftist and centre-right blocs in the lower house control 100 seats.

The Social Democrats said they would be willing to hold exclusive talks with their rivals on an agreement for their support of a rightist minority cabinet that would rule for two years before an early election.

"At this point, debate over any exclusive two-party talks with Jiri Paroubek's Social Democrats is not on the table," said Petr Tluchor, the head of the Civic Democrat parliamentary faction, after a party meeting.

"It (a government backed solely by Paroubek's party) isn't possible," said Tluchor, who is part of the Civic Democrat negotiating team.

Topolanek held talks with the Social Democrats after he was asked by President Vaclav Klaus to lead negotiations on forming a government immediately after a June 2-3 election.

Those talks broke down after demands by Paroubek's party that certain Civic Democrats could not be in the cabinet, and early elections could be held in the autumn of 2008.

Topolanek, who wants early elections next June, rejected the demands and went on to form a rightist minority government that lost a confidence vote in October and then resigned.

Paroubek has made similar demands in his new offer to hold exclusive talks with the Civic Democrats.

Analysts say Topolanek is more likely to try and form a coalition government with the centrist Christian Democrats and the Green Party. He has indicated the Social Democrats could also be part of an agreement.

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.

A three party centre-right government would have 100 seats in the 200-seat lower house, and thus at least one deputy from the left would have to cross the floor or abstain from voting to win a confidence vote.

If the Social Democrats were part of the coalition agreement, the government would have a strong majority since only the far-left Communists would not be part of the deal. ((Writing by Alan Crosby; editing by Robert Woodward; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477))

Keywords: CZECH POLITICS