The President asked ODS’s leader Mirek Topolanek to form a new Government for the second time. Topolanek will announce whether he accepts the offer today. Note that ODS, the Greens and Christian Democrats (KDU) would prefer early elections sometimes next year while the Communists in 2 years. CSSD still wants to have a chance to form a new Government or to form a grand coalition with ODS, which ODS rejects.
Our view:
We seem to be back in the deadlock as it is likely that the ODS-proposed interim Government leading to early elections would not receive the needed majority of votes in the Lower House. Therefore, it is likely that there will be a third attempt to form a Government, which, if not successful may lead finally into early elections. The other root for early elections through a change in the constitution is less likely at this point. While is it possible that the Lower House will approve a change in the Constitution (thanks to ODS, the Greens, KDU and the Communists), which would allow dissolution of the Lower House and early elections based on the President’s proposal (120 votes needed), the actual dissolution would likely not happen as the Communists would not support it.