Daily news summary
Independent groups win in local elections
In the municipal elections, various local groups of independent candidates are leading with all districts now counted in. Among the established political parties, Christian Democrats have won, followed by the Social Democrats and the Communist Party. The independent candidates gained over 40,000 posts on municipal councils, which is 3,000 more than in the previous elections. The Civic Democrats suffered a defeat, losing more than half of their seats on municipal councils. The turnout in the municipal elections was 44.46 percent, which is slightly lower than in the previous vote four years ago.
Social Democrats ahead in the first round of Senate elections
After the first round of voting for one third of the seats in the Czech Senate, 19 candidates of the Social Democrats will advance to the second round, along with nine ANO candidates and nine members of the Christian Democrats. Also making it to the second round are the Civic Democrats with seven candidates. TOP 09 have four in the running and the Green Party two. No senator was elected in the first round.
The turnout in the Senate elections was slightly below 39 percent, which is less than in the previous elections four years ago. A second round of voting in the Senate elections will take place next weekend. Independent groups leading in municipal elections
ANO wins in the capital and majority of large cities
In the capital of Prague, the ANO party won with 22 percent of the vote, followed by TOP 09 with 16 percent, and the coalition of Christian democrats, the Greens and Mayors and Independent with over 11 percent.
Andrej Babiš’ ANO party has also won in most of the large cities, including Brno, Ostrava, Olomouc, Ústí nad Labem and České Budějovice. The Social Democrats, on the other hand, have lost eleven cities.
Negotiations have begun in Prague and other municipalities
Negotiations have already begun in some municipalities about the formation of local councils. The head of the coalition ANO party, Andrej Babiš, has ruled out the possibility of forming a coalition with TOP 09 in Prague, which has failed to retain its position of the biggest party in the Czech capital. The ANO party is most likely to join forces with the Social Democrats and the three-way coalition of the Christian Democrats, Mayors and Independents, and the Green Party. Adriana Krnáčová, the ANO party’s candidate for Prague mayor said she will also hold talks with the Pirate Party.
TOP 09 drum up support for second round of Senate elections
The centre-right TOP 09 party have called on their supporters to come out and vote for their candidates in the second round of Senate elections. The head of TOP 09, Miroslav Kalousek, has also called on the party’s followers to cast their ballot for the Civic Democrats or for the Social Democrats, in case they stand against a candidate for the ANO party.
Proportion of women in local politics slightly increases
The proportion of women in local politics has slightly increased after the recent communal elections, from 26 to 27 percent, according to the analysis released by Forum 50 %, which promotes the equal representation of women in politics. The Senate will remain largely male-dominated. Eight women are running in the second round of Senate elections next weekend, with two standing a chance of being elected.
Tennis: Plíšková claims title in Linz
Czech tennis player Karolína Plíšková has claimed a title in the final of a WTA tournament in Linz, Austria, on Sunday. Plíšková defeated Italy’s Camila Giorgi in three sets by a score of 6:7, 6:3 and 7:6. The twenty-two-year-old Czech has had an excellent season, reaching five finals this year and winning two titles.
Orphée de Blins wins Velká pardubická
The 124th Pardubice steeplechase was won on Sunday by Orphée de Blins, ridden by Jan Faltejsek. It was the third win for the 12-year-old mare, who was seen as the favourite to win the 6,900-metre race. The legendary jockey and eight-time race winner Josef Váňa on Tiunmen came 16th in what was probably his last race.
