Smaller centre-right parties discuss forming Civic Forum 09 political grouping

Following a poor show in European elections earlier this month, a number of smaller, centre-right parties want to group together to contest the upcoming Czech general elections this autumn, under the name Občanské fórum 09. Head of the Věci veřejné Party Radek John made the announcement on Sunday, adding that the individual parties involved were in negotiations on around 100 different points. The anti-Lisbon Free Citizens’ Party and the European Democrats are also thought to be interested in the political grouping. Results of negotiations will be announced in three weeks, Mr John said on Sunday. The title Občanské fórum (in English, Civic Forum) was originally used by Václav Havel in 1989 during the Velvet Revolution. The Civic Forum subsequently formed Czechoslovakia’s first democratic post-communist government.

Author: Rosie Johnston