3 Czech political parties sign coalition agreement

Representatives from the Czech Social Democrats (CSSD), ANO and Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) parties signed on Monday an agreement on forming a three-party coalition government. Detailing the program and principles of the emerging three-party coalition's government, the pact will be submitted by CSSD head Bohuslav Sobotka to President Milos Zeman. The 50-page document contains the program on which the coalition reached agreement before Christmas. The future government promises to raise pensions, minimal wages and reliefs for a second and every other child. It will also abolish health-care fees that were introduced in 2008 under the centre-right government of Mirek Topolanek (Civic Democrats, ODS). Value added taxes on medicines, books, child nourishment and napkins will be reduced as from 2015, and the state budget deficit will be kept at 3 percent through a better collection of taxes and search for savings in the state administration, according to the agreement. The new government will have 17 seats, including the prime minister and two ministers without a portfolio. The CSSD will have eight seats with ANO six and the KDU-CSL three. The CSSD is to head the interior, industry, foreign affairs, labor and health care ministries. ANO will be in charge of finance, transport, justice and defense. The KDU-CSL is to lead the agriculture and culture ministries and hold the post of deputy prime minister for science. CSSD head Sobotka presented a preliminary list of candidates for ministers to Czech President Zeman on Jan. 3.