Czech president asks PM to seek wider govt support

...coalition government before the cabinet is appointed.

Topolanek's rightist Civic Democrats, the centrist Christian Democrats and the Green Party reached a deal earlier in the day to form a government to try to end a political stalemate in the EU member country that has lasted since a June general election.

But the three parties have just 100 seats in the 200-seat lower house, and will need the support of rebels from the leftist Social Democratic Party to survive a confidence vote required by the constitution once a government is appointed. Klaus has long opposed this method of forming a government.

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]