ANO, SPD and Motorists’ party sign coalition agreement

Representatives of the ANO party, the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, and the Motorists’ party have signed a coalition agreement in the lower house of parliament. The document confirms the division of ministerial posts and states that the next prime minister will come from ANO, while the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies will be nominated by SPD. The emerging coalition will hold a majority of 108 seats in the 200-member parliament. According to ANO leader Andrej Babiš, the parties were united by their goal to replace the outgoing government. SPD chairman Tomio Okamura described the deal as “the end of a government that harmed Czech interests,” and Motorists’ leader Petr Macinka called it “the first step toward change demanded by voters.”

ANO will control nine ministries, including finance, industry, health, labour, education, the interior, regional development, and justice. SPD will nominate ministers for defence, agriculture, and transport, while the Motorists’ party will lead foreign affairs, culture, the environment, and a newly created ministry for sport, prevention, and health.