Nascent government parties meet to divide posts

In view of the need to economize, the three parties in talks on setting up a centre-right coalition government - the Civic Democrats, TOP 09 and Public Affairs - have agreed to significantly reduce the number of committees in the lower chamber. They also decided on Monday to lower the number of deputy chairpersons in the chamber from five to three. The position of house chairman or chairwoman will go to a Civic Democrat, and the deputy posts to TOP 09 Public Affairs, and also to the Social Democrats, who are headed for the opposition. The Civic Democrats’ new first deputy Miroslava Němcová is being slated as a strong favourite for the post of house speaker; the newly-elected lower house of Parliament is to meet for its first session on Tuesday.

Author: Jan Velinger