Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas issued a one-week ultimatum Wednesday for his centre-right coalition to settle its differences, or face early elections, according to dpa. "The project has a chance," Necas said, if, by April 11, the three-party coalition resolved a crisis triggered when the smallest member, the Public Affairs party (VV), issued demands including the abolition of three ministries. Otherwise, the premier said he would push for early elections, ruling out a minority government if anyone pulled out of the coalition - as the VV party had previously threatened. "I will say openly that under no circumstances will I participate in a minority government," Necas said in Prague. President Vaclav Klaus called for unity among the coalition partners. "The country cannot afford further instability," Klaus said. The social-democratic opposition has criticized the government's austerity policies, demanding new elections in the coming months.
