Politics

Female members of the Czech parliament have posed for a glamorous calendar to highlight the growing presence of women in Czech politics.

Tortuous negotiations on who will fill key posts in the new centre-right cabinet appear to have ended in agreement, with the final pieces of the jigsaw falling into place for new prime minister Petr Nečas. His Civic Democrats seem to have made considerable concessions, with the powerful ministries of finance, foreign affairs and the interior all going to smaller coalition allies. But surprisingly – and for the first time in eight years – there's not a single woman amongst them.

The Czech Republic has a new prime minister and is on track for a new government, after more than a year of political limbo caused by the downfall of Mirek Topolánek's centre-right coalition. Petr Nečas was appointed by President Klaus in a brief ceremony at Prague Castle on Monday morning. He'll head a centre-right government that promises austerity measures to tame the budget deficit and a concerted campaign against corruption.

Last month's election saw more women than ever before elected to the lower house: 44. The three centre-right parties holding talks on forming the government have since put forward three women politicians for important posts.