Prague 5 representatives elected a new leadership for the city district yesterday, though the mayor’s position remains unfilled. The newly elected vice-mayors are Lukáš Herold (ODS) and Petr Lachnit (ANO), joined on the council by Zdeněk Doležal (ODS), Martin Damašek (TOP 09), David Dušek (STAN), and Lubomír Brož (ANO), an MP who was also appointed as an unreleased councillor. All six have prior experience serving on the city council. This leadership change follows the dismissal of the previous council, which was formed by Prague 5 Sobě, Pirates, and SEN 21. The previous coalition, holding a slim majority of 21 out of 41 representatives, collapsed after Štěpán Rattay (formerly of Pirates) resigned from the council on Monday. Rattay now serves as an unaffiliated representative and supported the new council’s formation. Herold emphasized the temporary nature of the six-member council, explaining the decision to delay appointing the remaining three members to allow broader coalition negotiations. “We aim to collaborate with all political parties to establish a stronger coalition,” he stated. The city district’s 2024 budget discussion, initially scheduled for today, was withdrawn by Jolana Dočekalová (Prague 5 Sobě), the outgoing councillor for finance. She argued that the emerging coalition should draft its own budget, stating: “I don’t want to bind the new leadership with my proposal.” Herold criticized the decision, blaming the previous coalition for the impending provisional budget. He assured that the new council would prioritize preparing a budget. Under provisional management, the district can only spend one-twelfth of the previous year’s budget per month and is restricted from initiating new investments. Outgoing councillor Jaroslav Pašmik (Prague 5 Sobě) suggested electing only three members to ensure minimal operations, arguing that appointing additional members without clear responsibilities was unnecessary. Herold countered that at least five members are needed for a quorum, making the six-member appointment essential. New councillor Martin Damašek (TOP 09) emphasized the temporary nature of the current composition: “This council is a provisional solution, and we are committed to ensuring stable leadership for the district until the next elections.” The newly formed council will convene on Wednesday to delegate responsibilities among members and begin work on the district’s budget. Prague 5, home to approximately 86,000 residents and encompassing areas like Smíchov, Košíře, and Jinonice, now faces the challenge of navigating governance amid a transitional phase. Source: CTK