Ungrand coalition

How to form a grand coalition without forming a grand coalition? That's the conundrum for ODS and ČSSD. Without an agreement between the two - or a deal with the Communists - it won't be possible to form a new government. ODS insists that a grand coalition is out of the question - pairing off with ČSSD would likely hurt it in the municipal and Senate elections in the fall. ČSSD proposes a disguised grand coalition of ODS's ministers and its own "experts." Perhaps the only way a cabinet can be formed without its being labeled a grand coalition is for ODS Chair Mirek Topolánek to invite ČSSD into the ill-fated three-party coalition. The Green Party would likely leave for the opposition, allowing ODS, KDU-ČSL and ČSSD to piece together a broad coalition. That would set the stage for Topolánek, Paroubek, Kalousek, Klaus, Zeman and Havel all to get at least part of what they want.