Czech PM, Greens agree to push for 2008 elections

By Alan Crosby

PRAGUE, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Czech rightist Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek agreed with the Green Party on Thursday to push for a four-party deal to form a new government that would run the country until early elections in the spring of 2008.

Centre-right and leftist parties have been locked in a bitter battle since a parliamentary election in June left each side with 100 seats in the lower house of parliament.

Topolanek told reporters after a meeting with the Greens that the two parties had agreed they should try to form a coalition government with the centrist Christian Democrats and the leftist Social Democrats.

"We agreed that in an ideal case, we will be working on a government project made up of four parties which would lead the country to early elections in May or June 2008," Topolanek said.

"Only further talks will show whether or not this is realistic," he added.

Analysts said it was likely a deal could be struck, although the Social Democrats prefer a coalition with as few parties as possible so they can have greater influence on policy.

The five month-long deadlock has yet to hit the booming economy, but it has stopped it from having a stable, strong government needed to implement spending reforms to prepare for the adoption of the euro currency after 2010.

MEETINGS LATER ON THURSDAY

Topolanek is scheduled to meet the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats in separate meetings later on Thursday.

"Our most recent negotiations (with the Social Democrats) raise the chances that a coalition project with elections in 2008 could be successful ... It is a question of agreeing on the government programme," he said.

Topolanek was appointed prime minister by President Vaclav Klaus immediately after the June vote, and subsequently formed a minority government that failed in its first confidence vote.

Klaus picked Topolanek again to try and form a government after his party dominated mid-October senate and municipal elections.

The pressure is mounting on the prime minister to reach a deal with his rival, Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek.

If the second attempt to form a government fails, the house speaker will choose a new candidate to form a government.

Most analysts say that since Topolanek would have failed twice, Paroubek is likely to get the third chance.

Only the Greens and Topolanek's Civic Democrats are eager for an early vote, setting up the possibility that at least one Christian Democrat deputy would cross the floor to tip the balance of power and allow Paroubek to win a confidence vote.

If three governments fail to win a confidence vote, Klaus may call elections immediately. The Social Democrats want to avoid this since they have slid in opinion polls since the vote. ((prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477; editing by Steve Pagani))

Keywords: CZECH POLITICS