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Czech Parties Agree to Form Center-Left Coalition Czech Parties Agree to Form Center-Left Coalition
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PARIS — A leftist former finance minister was expected to become prime minister of the Czech Republic after three political parties signed an agreement on Monday to form a center-left coalition government. The deal helped to bring to a close one of the most acrimonious periods of political crisis in the country’s recent memory.PARIS — A leftist former finance minister was expected to become prime minister of the Czech Republic after three political parties signed an agreement on Monday to form a center-left coalition government. The deal helped to bring to a close one of the most acrimonious periods of political crisis in the country’s recent memory.
Under the agreement, the former official, Bohuslav Sobotka, 42, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, will become prime minister, returning his party to power after more than seven years in opposition. Mr. Sobotka, a longtime member of Parliament who trained as a lawyer, also served as deputy prime minister under a previous government. He has vowed to increase government spending after a period of grinding austerity. He has also indicated that he seeks strong relations with the European Union and the United States.Under the agreement, the former official, Bohuslav Sobotka, 42, the leader of the Social Democratic Party, will become prime minister, returning his party to power after more than seven years in opposition. Mr. Sobotka, a longtime member of Parliament who trained as a lawyer, also served as deputy prime minister under a previous government. He has vowed to increase government spending after a period of grinding austerity. He has also indicated that he seeks strong relations with the European Union and the United States.
The Czech Republic, now a member of the European Union, became a global symbol of freedom and economic liberalism after Czechoslovakia overthrew communism in 1989. But its reputation has since been tarnished by a string of corruption scandals, including a bribery and political scandal last summer that forced the center-right government of Prime Minister Petr Necas to resign and plunged the country into uncertainty. President Milos Zeman appointed a caretaker government in July, but it failed to win the confidence of Parliament. The Czech Republic, now a member of the European Union, became a global symbol of freedom and economic liberalism after Czechoslovakia overthrew communism in 1989. But its reputation has since been tarnished by a string of corruption scandals, including a bribery and abuse-of-office scandal last summer that forced the center-right government of Prime Minister Petr Necas to resign and plunged the country into uncertainty. President Milos Zeman appointed a caretaker government in July, but it failed to win the confidence of Parliament.
Mr. Necas’s chief of staff, who was then his girlfriend and whom he has since married, was accused of using the secret services to spy on his previous wife. The biggest anticorruption operation in decades also turned up the equivalent of $8 million in cash and stores of gold that prosecutors suspect were used in kickback schemes.Mr. Necas’s chief of staff, who was then his girlfriend and whom he has since married, was accused of using the secret services to spy on his previous wife. The biggest anticorruption operation in decades also turned up the equivalent of $8 million in cash and stores of gold that prosecutors suspect were used in kickback schemes.
Mr. Sobotka, who is known for his uncharismatic personal style, has faced infighting from within his own party including a failed attempt to unseat him as leader after October elections. He is a churchgoing father of two, and has been unscathed by accusations of corruption. On Monday, he heralded a new period of stability. “The emerging coalition is ready, both in terms of personnel and program, to assume government responsibility,” he told reporters. “It brings hope for a change for the better.”Mr. Sobotka, who is known for his uncharismatic personal style, has faced infighting from within his own party including a failed attempt to unseat him as leader after October elections. He is a churchgoing father of two, and has been unscathed by accusations of corruption. On Monday, he heralded a new period of stability. “The emerging coalition is ready, both in terms of personnel and program, to assume government responsibility,” he told reporters. “It brings hope for a change for the better.”
The Czech economy has teetered in recession over the past two years and has shown only limited signs of recent recovery. Though Mr. Sobotka has promised to counter growth-busting austerity, the coalition has nevertheless said it aims to keep the deficit below 3 percent of gross domestic product, as required by the European Union. Some analysts predicted a potential clash between the left-leaning Mr. Sobotka and his likely finance minister, Andrej Babis, a blunt-spoken and economically liberal Slovak food, media and chemicals billionaire with a Czech passport. His anti-establishment party, Ano, or Yes, won the second largest number of votes in October elections.The Czech economy has teetered in recession over the past two years and has shown only limited signs of recent recovery. Though Mr. Sobotka has promised to counter growth-busting austerity, the coalition has nevertheless said it aims to keep the deficit below 3 percent of gross domestic product, as required by the European Union. Some analysts predicted a potential clash between the left-leaning Mr. Sobotka and his likely finance minister, Andrej Babis, a blunt-spoken and economically liberal Slovak food, media and chemicals billionaire with a Czech passport. His anti-establishment party, Ano, or Yes, won the second largest number of votes in October elections.
Mr. Babis said Monday that he wanted to focus on tax collection, combating fraud and improving the absorption of European Union funds. Though he has vowed to clean up the country’s culture of sleaze, some analysts have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, since his vast empire includes 200 companies.Mr. Babis said Monday that he wanted to focus on tax collection, combating fraud and improving the absorption of European Union funds. Though he has vowed to clean up the country’s culture of sleaze, some analysts have raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, since his vast empire includes 200 companies.
The parties will now ask Mr. Zeman to appoint Mr. Sobotka as prime minister along with his cabinet. Analysts warned that political harmony was far from assured as Mr. Zeman, a former member of the Social Democrats, was a bitter political rival of Mr. Sobotka’s, and he has already indicated that he may oppose some of Mr. Sobotka’s ministerial picks.The parties will now ask Mr. Zeman to appoint Mr. Sobotka as prime minister along with his cabinet. Analysts warned that political harmony was far from assured as Mr. Zeman, a former member of the Social Democrats, was a bitter political rival of Mr. Sobotka’s, and he has already indicated that he may oppose some of Mr. Sobotka’s ministerial picks.

Jan Richter contributed reporting from Prague.

 Jan Richter contributed reporting from Prague.