Three Czech parties form ruling coalition

Three Czech political parties signed an agreement on 6 January 2014 to form a centre-left coalition government that aimed to shore up economic growth by easing a squeeze on state finances.

This followed early elections in the Czech Republic in October 2013, called after the previous government fell in a corruption and spying scandal.

The Czech President Miloš Zeman appointed the country's new government under the social democratic Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka in Prague on the 29 January 2014.

The new Czech centre-left cabinet won a required vote of confidence in the Parliament on the 18 February 2014.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Czech parties reach deal to form centre-left government http://www.europeansources.info/record/czech-parties-reach-deal-to-form-centre-left-government/

ESO: Background information: Czech Republic: Parliamentary Election, 25-26 October 2013 http://www.europeansources.info/record/czech-republic-parliamentary-election-25-26-october-2013/

Blog: Matisak's Blog, 08.01.14: What is a chance of survival for new Czech coalition? http://matisak.wordpress.com/2014/01/07/what-is-a-chance-of-survival-for-new-czech-coalition/

Pravda, 07.01.14: Zeman must respect the Prague constitution (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/results/archiv_article/ARTICLE136091-Zeman-must-respect-the-Prague-constitution

Deutsche Welle, 07.01.14: Czech politicians sign coalition deal following early elections http://dw.de/p/1Am2G

Euronews, 06.01.14: Czech left finally agrees on coalition http://www.euronews.com/2014/01/06/czech-left-finally-agrees-on-coalition/

Deutsche Welle, 17.01.14: Czechs get new PM as Zeman appoints Social Democrat Sobotka http://dw.de/p/1AsoE

Právo, 29.01.14: The exit of Prague's oddest government to date (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE137404-The-exit-of-Prague-s-oddest-government-to-date

Czech Republic: Government: Press Release, 17.01.14: Bohuslav Sobotka, the leader of the Czech Social Democratic Party, named prime minister today http://www.vlada.cz/en/media-centrum/aktualne/president-zeman-appoints-sobotka-new-czech-prime-minister-115272/

EurActiv, 19.02.14: Pro-Europe Czech cabinet wins confidence vote http://www.euractiv.com/elections/pro-europe-czech-cabinet-wins-co-news-533613

Deutsche Welle, 19.02.14: Pro-Europe Czech Cabinet bolstered by vote of confidence http://dw.de/p/1BBIX

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