President asks Social Democrat leader to form new government

President Miloš Zeman on Thursday formally asked Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka to start negotiations on forming a new government, Mr Sobotka told reporters. The Social Democrat chairman said he expected a new government could be formed before the end of the year. However, the president had earlier said he would only appoint Mr Sobotka prime minister after he fully recovers from a recent injury.

The Social Democrats came first in last month’s general elections. They have already began talks with the ANO party and the Christian Democrats on forming a coalition government; however, negotiations were on hold for some time due to a crisis within the Social Democrat party when some of its leaders sought to oust Bohuslav Sobotka as party chair.