Babis To Propose Next Step In Government Talks

Andrej Babis Milos Zeman

Prague, April 30 (CTK) – Prime Minister Andrej Babis is likely to report on his talks with Social Democrat (CSSD) and Communist (KSCM) leaders about possible government cooperation and propose further steps to be taken at meeting of his ANO movement on Tuesday, ANO deputy head Richard Brabec said today.

 

Babis, CSSD chairman Jan Hamacek and KSCM chairman Vojtech Filip met on Thursday. This has been their first meeting within the government-forming negotiations. The CSSD broad leadership approved on Saturday that the negotiations would go on this week.

 

Brabec said he is against the CSSD call for the removal of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) politicians from high parliamentary posts.

 

He said this would cause further problems in the Chamber of Deputies. “We would have to talk about a complete change of power in the Chamber. I am afraid this would be very dangerous in these conditions,” he said.

 

The CSSD demanded the removal of the three SPD lawmakers from high posts also because it wanted to break the unofficial alliance between ANO, the KSCM and the SPD. These three parties joined forces in key votes. The Social Democrats fear that ANO might keep pushing through its plans together the KSCM and the SPD against their will even if the CSSD and ANO form a government coalition.

 

Brabec said he also opposed the CSSD idea that the coalition agreement of ANO and the CSSD include the pledge that a minister must leave the cabinet once a court decides on his guilt even if the verdict is not final.

 

The Czech police accused Babis of a EU subsidy fraud last year.

 

Brabec said some compromise may be reached on the issue, however.

 

One week ago, the CSSD decided to return after the negotiating table with ANO, which offered five posts in the 15-member cabinet, including the interior and foreign affairs ministries.