Prague 2 coalition: ODS, TOP 09, Praha 2 sobě and Pirates

In the Prague 2 district, the October elections have produced a broad coalition of ODS, TOP 09, the Praha 2 sobě movement and the Pirates. Borough spokeswoman Andrea Zoulová announced this after the parties signed a memorandum. STAN and ANO are not part of the new administration and will move into opposition.

How residents voted

According to the Czech Statistical Office, the Prague 2 council election was won by the Spolu pro Prahu 2 bloc (ODS and TOP 09), with 30.61% of the vote and 12 seats. Praha 2 sobě came second with 24.09% and 10 seats. The Pirates took 11.28% and will have four seats. STAN holds a further six seats and ANO three. The council has 35 seats in total.

Why the previous alliance was not repeated

In the last term, Vinohrady town hall was run by ODS, TOP 09 and ANO, with a narrow majority of 18 seats. Once the votes were counted, it was clear that this line-up could not continue: in the new 35-seat council it would have had only 15 seats.

According to Zoulová, the parties decided to “carry on the will of the voters and create a broad coalition that brings together former coalition and opposition representatives.”

Tough negotiations and compromises

A source familiar with the talks says they were difficult. For a long time STAN was also still in the game, and it could have considered cooperating with the Spolu bloc either inside a coalition or outside one. In the end the movement was left out, and the deal was struck by forces that hardly anyone expected to team up before the elections.

“After tough negotiations, a coalition emerged that may have looked like science fiction at first, but that is politics. Thanks to its solid majority, it may well turn out to be stable. Everyone had to compromise and give up a little on their priorities,” the source noted.

Around Prague, based on reporting by prazskypatriot.cz