As indicated last week, representatives of the three coalition parties (ODS, Christian Democrats and the Greens) met with CSSD yesterday to discuss CSSD’s support for the centre-right coalition Government based on the coalition program in exchange for the post of Lower House’s speaker given to CSSD’s candidate. The negotiations were expected to end of Wednesday, which is also the deadline for nomination of the candidate for the Speaker’s position (4th election to be held of Friday). CSSD ad the Centre-right agreed only that CSSD will not enter the centre-right coalition, while CSSD repeated that its support for the centre-right program is not very likely at the moment. The centre-right continues to promote a flat tax rate, which is strictly opposed by the CSSD.
Our view: We see it unlikely that any agreement could be reached by Wednesday, which means that the Lower House’s speaker will not be elected on Friday. Given the current political set-up we still see two possibilities; i.e. some sort of support of ODS Government by CSSD or early elections.