Czech leftists say ready to join coalition

By Alan Crosby

PRAGUE, Nov 20 (Reuters) - The leftist Czech Social Democrats said on Monday they were ready to participate in forming a government to end a parliamentary stalemate that followed an inconclusive June general election.

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

But Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's rightist Civic Democrats and the leftistis have moved closer in recent days to a deal that would create a coalition government, leaving only the timing of possible early elections to be settled.

The coalition is also likely to include the centrist Christian Democrats, while the Green Party has said it is unlikely to join such a grouping and would instead go into opposition along with the far-left Communists.

Social Democrat leader Jiri Paroubek told journalists on Monday that a deal could include a clause allowing the coalition to evaluate its work after one year to see if early elections should be held, or if the coalition would continue.

"We are ready, if necessary, to bear the responsibility of being in the government and participating on the work of the cabinet," he said. If an early vote were needed, the spring of 2008 would be the earliest acceptable date.

Topolanek's party, which has pushed for elections as soon as possible, gave the PM a strong mandate on the weekend to negotiate a deal as long as it is committed to reforms. The two parties are expected to hold talks on Tuesday.

Analysts said the talks would be difficult, given that both sides would have to make concessions.

But, they added, the change by the two parties to deal with each other after months of bitter animosity was brought about by the uncertainty of heading to a third round of trying to form a government if this attempt fails.

"It (the Civic Democratic party) has narrowed its choice to two possibilities: certainty and risk," said political commentator Lenka Zlamalova. "Certainty is a (coalition) government ...risk is the third attempt to form a government by Paroubek with Communist support."

Topolanek's first minority government lost a confidence vote in October and subsequently resigned.

If three governments fail to win a confidence vote, President Vaclav Klaus may call early elections immediately, something the Social Democrats want to avoid since they have slid in opinion polls since the June vote. ((Reporting by Alan Crosby and Jan Korselt; editing by Ralph Boulton; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: alan.crosby.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420 224 190 477))

Keywords: CZECH POLITICS