Emerging government parties sign coalition deal

The Social Democrats, ANO and the Christian Democrats have signed a coalition agreement on a new centre-left government. The agreement outlines a list of policy priorities and a division of ministerial posts. Under the deal, the Social Democrats will get 8 posts in the new government, the ANO party 6 and the Christian Democrats 3. Social Democrat leader and the country’s likely next prime minister Bohuslav Sobotka will now submit the coalition agreement to President Miloš Zeman who should by rights appoint him prime minister. There has been some speculation that the president might try to stall the process if he has serious reservations to the proposed cabinet line-up. Mr. Sobotka said earlier that if all goes well a new administration could be in place by mid-January.