Crisis at Prague City Hall

Civic Democrat councilors are holding an emergency meeting on the crisis at Prague City Hall. The future of the city’s administration lies in the balance after TOP 09 pulled out of the coalition and is demanding the lion’s share of powers in local government. TOP 09 is pushing for a new coalition agreement with the Civic Democrats under which it would get seven seats on the eleven member council and the post of mayor. The party has been increasingly critical of overpriced city projects such as the Blanka tunnel or Opencard and in future wants to oversee key areas such as public transport, property and financing. It has offered its right wing coalition partner just four council seats and made it clear that if the offer is rejected it would approach the Social Democrats or seek support for a broad coalition. The Civic Democrats have said they are not prepared to relinquish the post of mayor.