Prague coalition talks: STAN meets Pirates and Praha sobě

After the Prague municipal elections, the STAN movement, which won 17 of the 65 seats, has begun talks on a city coalition. Likely future mayor Petr Hlaváček met the Pirates and representatives of Praha sobě, with further meetings planned for Friday and possibly Monday.

What the parties are discussing

According to Hlaváček, the sides discussed the framework of possible cooperation and the distribution of resources in fairly similar terms, but not specific names. The overall picture is only taking shape, and priorities will be discussed at the next meetings. He also recalled a possible alliance with Spolu: STAN and Spolu each hold 17 seats, which together make 34 of 65. “I think it is very fragile, and I prefer a broader framework. We want to present more details next week,” Hlaváček said.

He is also aware of the petition against a STAN alliance with ODS: more than 4,000 people signed it within a few days. “I understand, but elections exist to set the parameters, and we are responsible for a working agreement,” he added. Hlaváček, currently deputy mayor for territorial development, won more than 100,000 votes as the list leader in Prague.

The positions of Praha sobě and the Pirates

Praha sobě leader Adam Scheinherr considers STAN the most natural partner and would personally prefer a coalition with it and the Pirates. “Together with STAN and the Pirates, we see a more workable option with greater overlap in programmes and fewer disputes,” he said after the morning meeting. Scheinherr is now waiting for an invitation to the next meeting, and also plans to see Spolu leader Tomáš Portlík (ODS) and, on Wednesday, Pirate Tereza Nisler.

After Tuesday’s meeting with STAN, Nislerová said that what matters most to her now is delivering the action plan, including building affordable housing. “We respect the strength of our caucus and the election results: there are seven of us,” she said. She declined to comment on whether the Pirates still want transport in a coalition of STAN, Praha sobě and the Pirates, as Scheinherr wants that area. By her account, the meeting was merely an introduction and a “post-election breather”.

The balance of power on the council

Spolu also won 17 seats, so the two strongest groupings could form a coalition on their own. Portlík preferred that option after Monday’s meeting with STAN. Praha sobě has 13 seats, ANO has 11 and the Pirates have seven. The parties are so far refusing to form a coalition with ANO. SPD and Motoristé did not make it onto the council. Before the elections, Prague was governed by a coalition of Spolu (ODS, TOP 09, KDU-ČSL), the Pirates and STAN.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz