Press briefing of Prime Minister and Chairman of the ODS, Mirek Topolánek after negotiations of the ODS and the KDU-ČSL on Thursday 23th November 2006

Radim Ochvat, secretary of the Prime Minister: Good morning for the second time today after the negotiation of the ODS and the KDU-ČSL. I ask the Chairman of the ODS for his introductory speech again.

Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the CR and the Chairman of the ODS: And I, similarly as in the last case, give the floor to the acting Chairman of the KDU-ČSL, Jan Kasal.

Jan Kasal, Chairman of the KDU-ČSL: Nice afternoon ladies and gentlemen. We accepted invitation of civil democrats to take part in further round of negotiations and I must say that from my point of view, or from our point of view, we moved forward, as I can state that the KDU-ČSL is ready to work on and to support the variant, which would be aimed at early elections in 2008, based on the cooperation of four democratic parties. It is a variant, which we regard as the most advantageous for the Czech Republic at the moment and we are prepared to work on its implementation. That is all.

Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the CR and the Chairman of the ODS: I have nothing to add.

Radim Ochvat, secretary of the Prime Minister: We have proceeded very quickly to your questions. Your questions, please.

Journalist, Hospodářské noviny: Good morning. Do not you mind that the Communist Party would become the only one potential opposition party?

Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the CR and the Chairman of the ODS: This solution is a solution for one year and a half; it is a short-term solution, which leads to early elections. And if something is to lead us to early elections, and I hope that we will define clear and concrete targets in the programme part in next week, it would be lesser risk for the CR in my opinion than to permanently stagger in the pre-election campaign.

Jan Kasal, Chairman of the KDU-ČSL: It is a price for the agreement and we are ready to pay this price.

Radim Ochvat, secretary of the Prime Minister: Further question, please.

Josef Kopecký, MfD: Can I ask a question? Do you think that the four-coalition government may make any really decisive measures and reforms in that one year and a half?

Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the CR and the Chairman of the ODS: Just because we have agreed that the early elections are to be held by one year and a half, we do not suppose performance of any deep reforms, because the stalemate situation has been lasting for six months and we do not suppose that it should be prolonged. Nevertheless, even one year and a half is a period during which a lot of matters can be managed, and the existing government proved it in 38 days of its governance. If we clearly define concrete laws in the individual spheres, we will be ready to enforce them in this configuration effectively.

Radim Ochvat, secretary of the Prime Minister: Further question, please. If there is not any, thank you.

Jan Kasal, Chairman of the KDU-ČSL: Thank you and good-bye.

Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the CR and the Chairman of the ODS: Thank you.