UPDATE 1-Czech PM drops demand for early elections in 2007

(adds quotes, Paroubek, details)

PRAGUE, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Czech rightist Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek said on Monday he has dropped his demand that a deal to form an interim government include the condition of early elections in 2007.

Topolanek told a news conference after meeting with his rival leftist leader Jiri Paroubek that he is seeking a deal on a stable government which could rule until after the Czechs hold the six month rotating EU presidency in the first half of 2009.

Topolanek, appointed last week, 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.

"During the first attempt to form a government we said clearly that we will seek to hold early elections as soon as possible, now it is clear that we will be looking for a more stable solution," Topolanek said.

Topolanek formed a minority government after a June 2-3 election that ended in a stalemate, but it subsequently lost a vote of confidence in the lower house and resigned.

Paroubek told the news conference he could see a compromise deal on a government that would rule for anywhere from 18 months to three years. The current parliament's term is supposed to run until the spring of 2010.

"I think that the chances of preliminary elections (in early 2007) are, at this moment, fading," he said adding that he thinks an agreement could be reached in one or two weeks.

However, Paroubek said he still rejects Topolanek's proposal of a broad coalition government that would include all parties in parliament except the far-left Communists.

Topolanek, in turn, said he has not changed his stance on Paroubek's offer of a deal between the two biggest parties to rule. ((Reporting by Jan Korselt, Writing by Alan Crosby, prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477))

Keywords: CZECH POLITICS