New Freely Elected, Non-Communist Government to Take Office in Prague
President Vaclav Havel’s political movement and its ally on Friday formed the nation’s first freely elected non-Communist government in four decades.
The state CTK news agency reported that the agreement was reached at talks in the Slovak capital, Bratislava. Participants were Havel, Prime Minister designate Marian Calfa and representatives of Civic Forum, its sister movement Public Against Violence, the Christian Democratic Movement and the Democratic Party.
Civic Forum and Public Against Violence, which led the peaceful revolution that ousted the Communists from power last November, won 170 seats in the 300-seat Parliament in June 8-9 elections.
It was unclear whether the Democratic party, which won seats only in the Slovak regional Parliament, was to be included in the government or was only present at the talks.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
