Social Democrats and ANO agree two key posts in coalition talks

The Social Democrats and ANO have agreed on two key positions as part of ongoing talks on forming a coalition government with the Christian Democrats. After a meeting at Průhonice near Prague on Saturday, negotiators said ANO would fill the post of minister of finance, while the Social Democrats would get the position of speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. The chairman of the Social Democrats, Bohuslav Sobotka, says Jan Hamáček is in the frame for the latter post, though ANO have not indicated who their choice is for finance minister. Party leaders said they had also made headway on the divisive issue of taxation. The Social Democrats got 20.45 percent of the vote in elections four weeks ago, with ANO coming second on 18.65 percent.

Author: Ian Willoughby