BRUSSELS

The Czech Republic's ANO party, the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, and the Motorists party on Monday officially signed a coalition agreement to form a new government led by populist billionaire Andrej Babis.

Under the deal, the coalition will command a majority of 108 seats in the 200-member lower house of parliament, Radio Prague International reported.

The agreement outlines the division of ministerial posts, confirming that the next premier will come from ANO, while the speaker of the Chamber of Deputies will be nominated by the SPD.

ANO will take control of nine ministries, including finance, industry, health, labor, education, the interior, regional development, and justice. SPD will oversee the defense, agriculture, and transport portfolios, while the Motorists will lead the Foreign Affairs, Culture, and Environment ministries, plus a newly created Sport, Prevention, and Health Ministry.

ANO leader Babis said the coalition partners "were united by their shared goal of replacing the outgoing government."

SPD Chair Tomio Okamura described the deal as "the end of a government that harmed Czech interests," while Motorists leader Petr Macinka called it "the first step toward change demanded by voters."

In the parliamentary election, held on Oct. 3-4, Babis' ANO topped the polls with about 34.7% of the vote, comfortably ahead of the governing center-right Spolu coalition, which secured around 23.2%.