However, leftist Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek said his Social Democrat party would not tolerate such a cabinet and instead proposed the formation of a government of non-party experts.

    Mirek Topolanek's Civic Democrats won the biggest share of the vote but not a majority.

    The Civic Democrats and their two smaller potential centrist allies, the Greens and Christian Democrats, will together hold 100 seats in the 200-member lower house, the same number as the ruling parties.

    Klaus has called for the parliamentary term to begin on June 16, the first step toward replacing Paroubek's government.

    Paroubek, whose party came second on a platform of higher social spending, has proposed going into opposition, but his comments showed he would keep a future cabinet on a tight leash.

    In response to Paroubek's demand for non-partisan technocrats, Topolanek said any expert would be political in the way he or she tackled real issues.

    Some analysts said Topolanek would try to win formal appointment by Klaus quickly even without firm parliamentary backing, in order to replace Paroubek as soon as possible.

    If Topolanek forms a cabinet and loses the confidence motion, there will be two more attempts to form a government before the president can call an early election. Enditem