Czech centre-right parties began talks on forming an austerity-minded coalition government on Sunday after their surprisingly decisive election victory over leftists who advocated higher welfare spending, Reuters reported. Three centre-right parties, led by the Civic Democrats under new leader Petr Necas, won 118 seats in the 200-seat lower house in Saturday's parliamentary vote, defying expectations for a tight result. The right has promised to push through fiscal austerity measures to avert the risk of a Greek-style debt crisis. The European Union member's debt, which totals 35 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), is only half the EU average and less than a third that of Greece. But economists say the debt burden will rise quickly unless the new government implements budget reforms, including an overhaul of the pension system. Civic Democrat leader Petr Necas has met the heads of both potential coalition partners -- the conservative TOP09 late on Saturday and centrist Public Affairs on Sunday morning -- to discuss forming a coalition. -- SPA
