Nečas against Public Affairs taking interior portfolio due to party’s links with security firm

Civic Democrats leader Petr Nečas has rejected a demand from Public Affairs that party chairman Radek John become interior minister. The two parties are in talks with TOP 09 on forming a government coalition. Mr Nečas said it would be “problematic” if the portfolio was held by a party linked to a large private security firm, ABL. For their part, Public Affairs insist on holding the post of interior minister in a new 15-member cabinet.

Talks on forming a new government have run into difficulties over the filling of ministerial positions, how to combat corruption and other issues. The three parties say they aim to sign a coalition agreement by the end of the first week of July. Between them they would have 118 seats in the 200-seat Chamber of Deputies.