Czech president advises Babis to negotiate with neo-fascists

Czech president advises Babis to negotiate with neo-fascists
By bne IntelliNews April 11, 2018

After the surprising collapse of talks with the Social Democrats (CSSD) over forming a new government, caretaker premier Andrej Babis met President Milos Zeman on April 6 to discuss a way forward. Zeman recommended Babis negotiate with the neo-fascist party Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) and the Communists (KSCM).

It is clear now that Babis' Ano party has no solid allies, only a few possible coalition partners, and rival parties are already talking about an attempt to form a minority government. Negotiations with the SPD will be hard to swallow not only for civic society, but also for some Ano members — possibly to the extent of triggering a split within the party. This would lead to a deepening of the political crisis and popular protests, as well as damaging Czechia's reputation abroad

Appointed to head a minority government in late 2017, Babis then lost a confidence vote in January with most parties refusing to back him while he is under investigation for EU subsidy fraud. He has since been trying to form a new government, but an attempt to strike a coalition deal with the CSSD fell through, with the Social Democrats’ discomfort over the fraud case a major factor in the talks’ collapse. KSCM and the SPD are less squeamish: both had previously stated they were ready to negotiate. 

Babis stated that the highest bodies of Ano will meet on Thursday to discuss the possibility of co-operation with the SPD. “It is an option,” he added.

On April 11, KSCM leader Vojtech Filip is set to meet the president, followed by the SPD leader Tomio Okamura the next day.

However, Zeman's proposal is already a source of contention within Ano. The friction within the party was voiced by Transport Minister Daniel Tok, who stated that he doesn’t want to be in a government with the neo-fascist SPD.

In a further sign of conflict, some Ano MPs are ready to consider another person for premier than Babis, as the business daily Hospodarske noviny reported. For the Ano leader, this would be yet another blow on top of his declining popularity and the exit of current Justice Minister Robert Pelikan (Ano), who declared his wish not to be in another government.

Babis had previously rejected a proposal from CSSD leader Jan Hamacek that the two parties form a government without the chairman of either party.  

However, the caretaker prime minister denied there is any revolt against him within Ano. “We couldn’t find any MPs who would want someone else than me for PM,” Babis claimed. 

In the meantime, six democratic parties including the centre-left CSSD and centre-right Civic Democrats (ODS), together with the Pirates, Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) and two other centrist pro-EU parties, are due to meet on April 11 to discuss possible co-operation and perhaps an attempt at forming a minority government.

Moreover, it can be expected that protests will continue against Babis and the prospect of Ano’s co-operation with KSCM and the SPD. On April 9, demonstrations occurred in 20 cities across the Czech Republic. The largest was in Prague, where several thousand rallied to voice discontent with Babis, who could face criminal prosecution in the subsidy fraud case.

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