Coalition talks to resolve Czech crisis

The Associated Press    Translate This Article
14 April 2005

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - A deal that would have let the Czech Republic's scandal-tainted prime minister resign to make way for a new government collapsed Thursday, leaving the leadership of the central European country in limbo.

The scandal arose over how Prime Minister Stanislav Gross paid for a luxury apartment. He first said he paid for it with his own money, but later said he borrowed money from his uncle. Czech media later reported that the uncle borrowed the cash from a journalist he barely knew.

Earlier Thursday, Gross and the two other parties in the coalition government reported reaching an agreement that would have established a new Cabinet. However, only five of 25 leading Social Democrats supported the deal, party spokeswoman Lucie Orgonikova said.

The two smaller coalition parties then quit the government.

'We are leaving, being very sorry that a chance to create a majority government was wasted,' said Jan Kasal, chairman of the Christian Democrats.

The Freedom Union was the other party departing the coalition.

It was not immediately clear if talks could resume or if early elections would take place. Gross had said he would lead a minority Cabinet should the coalition talks fail.

Five ministers had resigned earlier while the two coalition partner parties—the Christian Democrats and Freedom Union—demanded Gross either leave his post or call early elections to restore confidence in the government.

The Social Democrats have supported Gross, their chairman, through the scandal.

After weeks of struggling to hold his government together after the scandal broke, Gross said Saturday he would resign and make way for a new coalition government.

Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.



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