On 18 October 2026, the ANO movement, Starostové pro Ostravu and the Ostravak movement announced at a joint press conference an agreement on a coalition in Ostrava. Together they hold 37 seats in the 55-member city council. They intend to sign the coalition agreement by Friday, 23 October. The leader of the Ostrava branch of ANO, Richard Vereš, is to become mayor.[1][2]
Under the agreement, ANO is to have five representatives on the eleven-member city board, Starostové pro Ostravu four and Ostravak two. The parties still intend to discuss the filling of specific posts. The first deputy mayor is to be the leader of Starostové pro Ostravu, Aleš Boháč, who wants to remain in charge of the environment. The leader of Ostravak, Lukáš Semerák, said he wants at least a seat on the board for himself and the health and transport portfolios for the movement.[1][2]
According to Vereš, the parties agreed on, among other things, making the running of the city more efficient, reducing the number of full-time board members and seeking internal savings. They want to focus on housing and on the development of Městská nemocnice Ostrava; Vereš mentioned talks with the Ministry of Health on a possible transfer of it to the state. Other goals include completing a football stadium and a concert hall.[1]
In the 2026 municipal elections, ANO won 18 seats in Ostrava, three fewer than in the previous elections. The srdcOVA coalition (ODS, KDU-ČSL and TOP 09) came second with 13 seats, STAN had 12 councillors, Ostravak seven and Motoristé five.[1]
ANO and Starostové pro Ostravu joined forces as early as Tuesday, 13 October. They had originally also negotiated with Motoristé. Vereš said they could not push through a partner that Starostové did not want, and the lead candidates described Motoristé's demands as excessive; according to Boháč, Motoristé asked, among other things, for two deputy mayors. The incumbent mayor Jan Dohnal (srdcOVA) tried, according to the Czech News Agency, to push through a variant in which ANO would remain in opposition. Boháč and Vereš stated that srdcOVA offered ANO cooperation in a two-party coalition with the post of mayor.[1]
Chronology
- — After the municipal elections, ANO, Starostové pro Ostravu and the Ostravak movement agreed on a coalition in Ostrava. ČTK / České noviny iROZHLAS