For those keeping score at home, that's the latest twist in the saga of political turmoil that's gripped the Czech Republic for more than five months now. In a surprise announcement Nov. 6, President Václav Klaus said he would give Civic Democratic Party (ODS) Chairman Mirek Topolánek another shot to lead the country.

At press time, ODS leaders were recommending that Topolánek accept the offer.

Topolánek has already failed once to form an ODS-led government after June's general election delivered an evenly divided Chamber of Deputies that ushered in months of political deadlock. His Cabinet resigned a month ago following a vote of no confidence in Parliament.

But a strong performance in local and Senate elections last month — in which the ODS trounced its main rival, the left-wing Social Democrats (ČSSD) — has breathed new life into the party.

"The ODS's strong showing in the elections only strengthened Klaus' conviction to give another attempt to the right wing," says political analyst Bohumil Doležal.

Still, Topolánek was not expected to get another nod: Rather, many felt the ODS's renewed momentum would embolden the party to choose a new chairman and present a new face to the public.

"I was surprised by Klaus' decision to name Topolánek again," Doležal says. "It seems to me Klaus is trying at all costs to prevent [ČSSD Chairman Jiří] Paroubek from getting a chance to form a government."

Announcing his decision, Klaus sounded frustrated that none of the country's major political parties has yet found a way out of the political mess in the Chamber.

"After the Cabinet failed to win a vote of confidence in Parliament, I waited for one month," Klaus said at a news conference. "I hoped that after this failure the political parties would be willing to cooperate in looking for a solution. Today, the waiting is over for me."

Topolánek would get another 30 days to win approval in the Chamber for his handpicked Cabinet, most of which has remained in place even after last month's no-confidence vote.

"Am I going to accept? At this moment, I still cannot say," Topolánek said Nov. 6.

If Topolánek accepts and fails, as he is expected to do, Klaus will have to appoint someone else next month to form a government.

"Topolánek has almost no chance of gaining support for his government the second time around," says Alexandr Mitrofanov, a political columnist for the daily Právo.

Some observers are betting that Paroubek, prime minister until August, will rise again and get his own chance at forming a government. They note that his recent rejection of a grand coalition government was his way of digging in for a long battle.

But the ČSSD has been badly scarred by scandals of late, which could help Topolánek. "These days you never know. After all the scandals, a left-wing deputy might be willing to support Topolánek," Mitrofanov says.