Final Word from Saturday, June 3, 2006
ODS was the winner in the elections, with about 35%, and could perhaps form a slim majority cabinet with KDU-ČSL (about 7%) and the Greens (about 6%). The preliminary results are so close, though, that ČSSD (with about 32%) might be the one that works something out with the Communists (13%) and the Greens (6%). Another possibility is still an ODS-ČSSD grand coalition, but Mirek Topolánek and Jiří Paroubek have both vigorously ruled this out. Removing them as party chairmen is no longer a real option, since both parties did so well in the elections. Perhaps a more acceptable outcome than a grand coalition would be a broad coalition of ODS, ČSSD and KDU. It could find a compromise on most pressing issues by ignoring the biggest rightists within ODS and the biggest leftists within ČSSD. It might also be the only outcome that can assure the reelection of Václav Klaus. [Czech Republic vote parliamentary elections presidential]