ANO is losing power in Pardubice after 12 years: five parties have started talks on a new coalition for the 2026–2030 term. Together, ODS, STAN, Progressive Pardubice, Our Pardubice and the New Christian Democrats hold 22 of the 39 seats on the city council — two more than the outgoing coalition had.
“Our shared goal is a change in the city’s leadership, which voters demanded at the polls,” says a joint statement. It was read out after two hours of talks by ODS leader Ondřej Tichý.
The leaders of the future coalition admit that the negotiations will be tough, as the parties have different priorities. Even so, they are confident they will reach agreement on all programme issues. Compromises are unavoidable, for example on transport: the parties still disagree on whether to change Republic Square — calming traffic there or leaving everything as it is.
On Monday evening, the future coalition partners agreed that they will not negotiate with the ANO movement or with the Žijeme Pardubice group.
The parties are not yet saying who will get which portfolios. All that is certain is that the mayor’s post will go to the strongest party, ODS, with seven seats. STAN has five seats, Our Pardubice and Progressive Pardubice four each, and the New Christian Democrats two.
Source: novinky.cz