Czech parties see govt concluding talks Thursday

...Tuesday.

The rightist Civic Democrats are trying to form a government with the Christian Democrats and the Greens to end a political stalemate that has lasted more than half a year since an inconclusive parliamentary election in June.

The three parties have just 100 seats in the 200-seat lower house, and need the support of rebels from the leftist Social Dmoecratic Party to survive a confidence vote required by the constitution once a government is appointed.

"On Thursday, Civic Democrat chairman (Mirek) Topolanek will take a complete list of cabinet members to the president," CTK quoted Deputy Civic Democrat chief Petr Bendl as saying.

"Neither the definitive personnel (of the government) nor the exact balance of power among the three parties is known at this moment," he added.

The parties have agreed that if their planned cabinet survives an initial confidence vote, they will push reform laws aimed at cutting budget deficits and revamping the pension, social and healthcare systems.

If the leftists block the reforms, they will trigger early elections by blocking parliament.

Party spokesmen from all three parties said they did not want to comment on the progress of talks in progress.

Topolanek now leads a Civic Democrat-only cabinet which lost a confidence vote and resigned in October but remains in office while politicians try form a new administration.

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]