Czech Ruling Party Seeks Country’s First Female Premier

The Czech Civic Democratic Party is seeking majority support for Parliament Speaker Miroslava Nemcova, its candidate for premier, after a scandal over illegal spying and bribery charges toppled the Cabinet of Petr Necas.

Nemcova, 60, needs approval from two junior coalition parties, President Milos Zeman and the parliament’s confirmation to become the Czech Republic’s first female prime minister. Zeman, who has the right to name the next head of the Cabinet, won’t automatically accept any nomination and early elections remain a possibility, he said before the largest ruling party announced its candidate.