Hradec Kralove, East Bohemia, Feb 18 (CTK) – President Milos Zeman called on the Social Democrats, who started their national congress today, not to be in opposition, but to negotiate with ANO on their presence in the cabinet.
Zeman said the Social Democrats should not demand the seats of ministers, but those of deputy ministers.
“My recommendation says that if you do not want to fall into oblivion, work,” Zeman told the delegates to the congress.
He said if the party decided for the opposition role, its preferences could fall under the 5 percent threshold for the Chamber of Deputies.
Zeman confirmed that Prime Minister Andrej Babis’s ANO was interested in cooperating with the Social Democrats, awaiting their attitude.
Zeman said ANO also had other potential partners.
He added that he would meet chairman of the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) Tomio Okamura and Communist leader Vojtech Filip next week.
Zeman is scheduled to meet Babis this week.
The Social Democrats only received 7.3 percent of the vote in the October election to the Chamber of Deputies.