PRAGUE (AP) The leader of the party that finished first in last month's parliamentary election in the Czech Republic says he hopes to form a coalition government by the year's end.
The left-wing Social Democrats emerged as the strongest party, winning 50 seats in the 200-seat lower house of parliament. The new centrist ANO (YES) movement led by billionaire Andrej Babis was second, with 47 seats.
After Wednesday's meeting with President Milos Zeman, Social Democratic leader Bohuslav Sobotka said his party wants "very much" to create a coalition government with ANO and the Christian Democrats, who won 14 seats.
Sobotka says Zeman confirmed to him he intended to propose a three-party coalition, possibly during their next meeting scheduled for next week.
