Bratislava, June 18 (CTK) – Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis (ANO) has double-crossed the coalition in the making even before it started ruling, the Slovak paper Dennik N writes today.
The Social Democrats (CSSD) have found out what it means to be the whipping boy, Dennik N writes, commenting on the dispute over the Social Democrats having nominated MEP Miroslav Poche for the post of foreign minister in the coalition government that it is to rely on the Communist support.
“If any of the Czech Social Democrats pretended that the new government with Babis may not be the same disaster for the party as the previous one, Babis has rapidly opened their eyes,” the daily writes.
“Although the parties have agreed that they will not block their candidates for ministers, Babis has announced that he does not want Poche in his government,” it adds.
For his new government, Babis needs the backing from the Communists and also from President Milos Zeman, all of whom reject Poche’s nomination.
The CSSD can become a whipping boy of the alliance of Babis, the Communists and Zeman at any moment.
“Obviously, like in the previous joint government, Babis will never stop presenting any success as solely his own achievement, pushing the Social Democrats into unpleasant situations and shedding a negative light on them,” Dennik N writes.
“It is also clear that Babis still seeks the destruction of his political rivals, even if they may happen to be his coalition partners,” it adds.
Whatever the outcome of the dispute over Poche’s nomination, the affair will weaken the Social Democrats even more, Dennik N concludes.