New coalition government appointed to office

President Miloš Zeman appointed a new five-party coalition government to office at Lany Chateau on Friday. The incoming administration, led by Civic Democrat Petr Fiala, represents the SPOLU alliance of Civic Democrats, Christian Democrats and TOP 09 and the Pirate Party and Mayors and Independents who joined forces to oust Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’ ANO party from office in October’s general elections.

The five parties have a comfortable 108 seat majority in the 200-strong lower house and have signed a coalition agreement outlining their policy program.

The 18-member cabinet is expected to hit the ground running since it will have to tackle the Covid pandemic, the energy crisis and soaring inflation.