But the uncertainty that has hovered like a blanket of smog since the elections ended June 3 is far from over.

Even ODS leader Mirek Topolánek, who was charged with forming a new government after narrowly winning the election, doesn't have much faith in the coalition's viability. He said he's giving the three-party pact a 50 percent chance of surviving. In order for the coalition to gain approval, at least 101 deputies need to vote in its favor. Because the Chamber of Deputies is split exactly in half, with 100 seats for the left and 100 seats for the center-right, this is highly unlikely, unless some of the left-of-center Social Democrats (ČSSD) abstain from voting.

President Václav Klaus said he expects the outgoing ČSSD to support the coalition government in exchange for the post of Chamber of Deputies chairman.

The incumbent Prime Minister and ČSSD leader Jiří Paroubek has made it clear that he refuses to tolerate the center-right coalition. Pundits say Paroubek still hopes to get a chance to form a government if Topolánek's efforts fail.

Klaus has said, however, that Paroubek shouldn't count on it.

Although the coalition treaty is a patchwork of compromises, the ODS did manage to push through some of its planned reforms such as the flat tax — by far the biggest thorn in Paroubek's side. After reading the text of the treaty June 26, Paroubek dismissed the document as something on the level of "degenerate journalism."

Topolánek now has 30 days to gain approval for his new government. If he fails, Klaus can name a different candidate for prime minister — which could be Paroubek, but it could also be Topolánek again. If that candidate fails also, one more candidate could be named, this time by the chairman of the Chamber of Deputies.