President Zeman requests meeting with Social Democrat leader

President Miloš Zeman has requested a meeting with Social Democrat leader Bohuslav Sobotka on November 21st, the president’s spokeswoman Hana Buriánová told the ctk news agency on Thursday. The president is expected to officially task the Social Democrat leader with forming a new government. Mr. Sobotka said after his first meeting with the head of state on Wednesday that the president had clearly indicated he meant to entrust him with the task. As the head of the strongest party to come out of the elections, Mr. Sobotka is the natural candidate to lead the talks, although he has had to fight off a rebellion from party members who blame him for the Social Democrats' lackluster victory.