Press Conferences

23. 11. 2006 11:46

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

Martin Schmarcz, head of the press unit: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the briefing after the negotiation of delegations of the ODS and the ČSSD on forming a new government. And as it is customary today, I give the floor to the Chairman Topolánek and I suppose that, as it was before, he will pass the floor to the Chairman of the ČSSD.

Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the CR and the Chairman of the ODS: No.

Martin Schmarcz, head of the press unit: So, this time no.

Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the CR and the Chairman of the ODS: Good afternoon once more, for the third time today. We have presented our partners a variant, which arose during last days and it is a variant of governance of four-coalition up to elections in 2008. Our partners have taken time to think it over until Monday and I will leave the Chairman Paroubek to tell you more about it.

Martin Schmarcz, head of the press unit: Now the Chairman of the ČSSD, Jiří Paroubek has the floor.

Jiří Paroubek, Chairman of the ČSSD: Chairman, I am not full of such imagination to say more. That it is a variant, which is in fact a renewed variant, and which had occurred sometimes in June, perhaps in September, in October and because we had refused it then, we will have to seek causes to accept the proposal this time. Of course, we have to analyse these issues and perhaps we will come with our own proposal and we could come with some own proposal for the reform agenda of this government, in case we want to participate in the government. That is all, what I wanted to say.

Martin Schmarcz, head of the press unit: Now the Chairman of the ODS, Mirek Topolánek, has the floor.

Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the CR and the Chairman of the ODS: I just add information. On Monday, and I hope that I will have known some basic response to this proposal, I will present results of those negotiations that were held in last days to the President. Of course, in case we would start to discuss the variant, the programme debates would start on a government for one year and a half, and we are prepared for different proposals. Nevertheless, the situation, in comparison with June, July, August and September of this year is a bit different. Because in the first attempt was different situation, as there was the second attempt between the first one and the third one, while between today's attempt and the third one there is no other attempt. Therefore, we are in different situation now and I think that we regard these issues in a different way than in July and August. It means that each party has a will to make a compromise and I hope that also the ČSSD will find it. Thank you.

Jiří Paroubek, Chairman of the ČSSD: Chairman, the ČSSD will certainly find it, because all of you have certainly noticed that we ceased to speak about the third attempt and we are fully concentrated on the second attempt, because we think that the Czech general public is rather tired after that half a year. Thank you.

Mirek Topolánek, Prime Minister of the CR and the Chairman of the ODS: I agree. I also thank you and good-bye.

Martin Schmarcz, head of the press unit: Ladies and gentlemen, this is the end of today's briefing.

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