Social Democrats and ANO fail to resolve dispute over deputy ministers

A dispute over deputy ministerial positions involving the two main parties in the new government was not resolved by a meeting of the parties’ leaders on Monday. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka of the Social Democrats is insisting that a tradition of deputy ministers coming from the other parties in a coalition be respected. However, ANO boss Andrej Babiš is reluctant to accept a Social Democrat candidate for the post of deputy minister for taxation; he has also questioned the reputations of other Social Democrat deputy ministerial nominees. After Monday’s talks, Mr. Sobotka said 30 percent of what divided the two parties remained to be ironed out. Talks are due to continue on Friday, two days after the three-party government is appointed.