Uncertainties persist as polls approach in Czech Republic

With just a few days to go before parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic, it remains uncertain who would emerge as the victor and form a government for the next four years.

Some pollsters have predicted a victory for the left-wing parties, while others bet on the rightists -- often very much depending on who financed these surveys.

But most agree that the center-left Czech Social Democrats (CSSD) party could win the biggest share of the vote, followed by the right-wing Civic Democrats (ODS) and the Communists (KSCM).

Two new parties -- TOP 09 and Public Affairs (VV) -- are expected to get more than five percent of the vote and perhaps even as many as the Communists.

Three other small parties could also fare surprisingly well and cross the five-percent threshold needed to win seats in parliament.

These parties' performance could tip the balance in the elections.

It is widely expected that the Communists would tacitly support a possible CSSD minority government. According to some surveys, the two parties together could win as many as 103 seats in the 200-member lower house of parliament.

But other polls gave a narrow victory for a likely coalition of right-wing and center-right forces.

Thus, a stalemate is widely expected, which could lead to a grand coalition between the CSSD and ODS, though their leaders may say such a scenario is unlikely.

Source: Xinhua