PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Leftist Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek resigned Wednesday, making way for a new rightist government to step in.
The move followed more than 10 weeks of post-election negotiations to work out a new coalition government to be led by Mirek Topolanek, president of the conservative Civic Democratic party, Prague Radio reported.
Paroubek, leader of the Social Democratic party said Topolanek and his Civic Democrats should be given a chance to try and govern.
In parliamentary elections June 2-3, Topolanek's Civic Democrats won 81 seats, the most of all parties in the 200-deputy lower house, but not enough to form a government without coalition supporters.
Paroubek's Social Democrats won 74 seats.
Czech President Vaclav Klaus is expected to name Topolanek as the prime minister designate, the radio said.
Topolanek is looking for support from other parties for his minority government, a process that could take two or three weeks of negotiations, the report said.
