Šťastný denies coalition will be bound to elect Okamura lower house speaker

Boris Šťastný, head of the Motorists’ party parliamentary group, has dismissed as misinformation reports that all 108 MPs of the emerging ANO, Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), and Motorists’ coalition must pledge to elect SPD leader Tomio Okamura as speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. “Each MP will vote according to their own conscience,” Šťastný said on Nova TV. Christian Democrat leader Marek Výborný called the idea unacceptable, saying Okamura’s election would damage Czechia’s image abroad. The coalition agreement is due to be signed Monday, when the new lower house convenes for its first session.