Prague Social Democrats woo TOP 09 with offer of mayoral post

Social Democrats at Prague City Hall have offered the mayoral seat to TOP 09 should they form a coalition together. Deputy Mayor and Social Democrat Karel Březina told reporters on Tuesday that his party’s aim would be preventing a right-wing coalition in City Hall, following the unexpected breakup of the city’s grand coalition on Monday evening. The Civic Democratic Party initiated the breakup, saying the current coalition’s policies would result in enormous debts for the capital. Social Democrats say the decision was the result of disputes within the Civic Democratic Party. TOP 09 was the overall winner of the last local elections, but was sidestepped by the other two parties which formed a coalition without them. TOP 09 says it will negotiate with both parties and demands the removal of certain, unnamed individuals from the economic and personnel sections.