In Prague, it sparkles again before the municipal elections
The ODS wants to build on the success of the parliamentary elections in Prague and reach out to center-right voters under the Together brand. Together with KDU-ČSL and TOP 09, negotiations on repeating last year’s parliamentary model began before Christmas.
STAN, however, is also after the Prague TOP 09: they want to elect the United Forces for Prague (TOP 09, STAN, KDU-ČSL), which is in the municipal coalitions together with the Pirates, who have the mayor Zdeněk Hřiby in the capital.
“In the vast majority of local communities, we will run as STAN with the support of the association. Maybe with one exception, and that is the capital city of Prague, “said Stanislav Polčák, MEP and Vice-Chairman of STAN at ČT, stating that the party is negotiating the continuation of cooperation with TOP 09.
However, he raised the Prague ODS, which feels that the coalition with the People’s Party and TOP 09 is practically over.
“Mr. Polčák is trying to create confusion. We are negotiating in the Together coalition, the first meeting took place before Christmas, “Marek Benda, the chairman of the Prague ODS, told Práva. He admitted that he knew that TOP 09 was still negotiating with STAN. “We will discuss the next steps in the coalition on Sunday. That’s all I can say for now, “said Benda.
He hurried: The mayor could be from the ODS
According to sources from the ODS, all negotiations are aimed at the Together coalition going to the Prague municipal elections together. “Nothing is signed, but the negotiations of the Prague presidents are underway and so far there is no evidence that it should be any different, although some members of TOP 09 might want a different scenario,” a source from the Prague ODS, who did not wish to be named, told Práva.
According to the representatives of the Prague TOP 09, they would prefer a coalition with the ODS and the People’s Party, but they admit that it is not yet up their sleeve. The head of the Prague cell TOP 09 Jiří Pospíšil Práva confirmed that the people of the Prague parties of the Together coalition are discussing further progress, but in the coming week he also wants to meet his colleagues from STAN.
“Personally, I would consider it best to form a Together coalition, such as at the government level. Cooperation with STAN is good in Prague, but we still have different opinions, “Pospíšil told Práva. He added that he would feel better in a coalition with the right-wing ODS than with the “center, sometimes even center-left STAN movement.”
According to him, it will depend on how generous the ODS is in the negotiations. “We accept that the ODS would have a candidate for mayor, but we do not feel like a junior partner at all and we will certainly not be an appendix to the future coalition. It will depend on the conditions on the candidate and also what portfolio TOP 09 would have in the board, “remarked Pospíšil.
However, one of the members of the management of the Prague TOP 09 Práv said that negotiations with the ODS would not be easy at all. “The ODS wants a lot, but it gives little. It would be nice to go in the Together format, but it must not be at any cost, “he added. The head of the Prague organization STAN and the deputy mayor Petr Hlubuček would be in favor of continuing the coalition with TOP 09 and the People’s Party, because it works quite well. “Therefore, the quick decision of Mr. Jiří Pospíšil without prior negotiations with us surprises me, but I respect him. However, STAN will only discuss the communal, “Hlubuček told Práva.
The pirates who finished second in the previous Prague communals, but formed a council and sent the victorious ODS into opposition, will probably fight for the Prague City Hall this year. The current mayor Hřib will defend the mayor’s chain as the number one pirate.