Christian Democrats approve election coalition with Mayors and Independents

At their weekend party conference in Prague the Christian Democratic Party approved a plan to enter into a coalition with the grouping of Mayors and Independents for the autumn general elections. The move was strongly defended by party leader Pavel Bělobrádek and eventually approved by 228 out of 279 delegates present. Bělobrádek was also reelected party leader by a strong majority. Some party members regard the coalition agreement as being excessively risky in view of the fact that on a joint ticket the the two political groupings will have to win over 10 percent of the vote in order to win seats in the lower house. Bělobrádek said he was confident this is a realistic goal.