Pirates left out as ANO divides key posts in new Chamber of Deputies

The ANO party which won October’s general elections held talks with opposition parties in the Chamber of Deputies on Monday and Tuesday to divide key parliamentary posts, but the Pirate Party walked away empty-handed.

Despite having 18 MPs, the Pirates were offered no leadership roles in committees or commissions and will also lose their deputy speaker position, which they held in the previous term. The party called the decision a breach of parliamentary tradition and the principle of proportional representation, pointing out that the Pirates are the fourth-largest party, with support from over half a million voters.

ANO deputy chair Alena Schillerová defended the move, arguing that the emerging ANO–SPD–Motorists’ coalition considers the Pirates the smallest opposition force. Richterová suggested the real reason lies in the Pirates’ consistent anti-corruption stance.

Under ANO’s proposal, TOP 09, with nine MPs, is set to chair the education committee. The Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL) have been offered leadership of the social affairs and media committees. The Civic Democrats (ODS) are expected to receive three committee chairmanships and the post of deputy speaker, as the strongest party within the Together (Spolu) coalition, which ran jointly with TOP 09 and KDU-ČSL.

The Mayors and Independents (STAN), who won 22 seats running independently, are to be given one deputy speaker position and chairmanships of the defence and public administration committees.