PM among first to tweet congratulations to re-elected Communist Party leader Filip, reports Novinky.cz

Prime minister in resignation Andrej Babiš, the head of ANO, was among the first to tweet congratulations to the head of the Communist Party Vojtěch Filip, Novinky.cz reports.

Mr Filip, who has led the party for 12 years, was re-elected at the party's congress in Nymburk on Saturday. He narrowly defeated challenger Josef Skála by just 20 votes. His continuation as chairman was not assured after the party's poor results in last year's parliamentary election.

In his tweet, the prime minister expressed the hope the move would pave the way for a new government with majority backing in the lower house. For the first time since 1989, the government will have to rely on the Communists for outside support.

ANO and the Social Democrats are currently negotiating who will be in the minority coalition. The Czech Republic has had a government in resignation since January.