Parties clash on portfolio partition

The parties negotiating a new centre-right government appear to have clashed over the share out of seats in a future government. The Civic Democrats, TOP 09 and Public Affairs had signed an agreement for a 6:5:4 share out of 15 ministerial portfolios in a future government. But TOP 09 leader Karel Schwarzenberg said his party is still sticking to its demand that it have equal weight with the Civic Democrats in terms of overall influence and heavyweight cabinet posts, according to the daily Lidové noviny. TOP 09 deputy leader Miroslav Kalousek has reportedly demanded to be the next finance minister, with the responsibilities of that office undiminished, or threatened not to be in the government at all. Civic Democrats have previously said the prime minister and finance minister should come from the same party.