Around 85% of the Czech Socialist Party (CSSD) members voted in a referendum to form a coalition government with the populist centrist party Ano of Prime Minister-designate Andrej Babis, the Czech media reported on June 11.
The supporters of joining the coalition have the upper hand, according to unofficial claims. However, it is still unclear whether CSSD will enter the coalition.
The CSSD reached a tentative coalition deal with Ano and the party’s proposed cabinet nominees were published, but the deal first had to be approved in an intra-party referendum. The party remains divided on joining a coalition with Babis, who is under investigation for fraud relating to EU funds.
The Communist party (KSCM) has also followed the vote closely as it would be open to the coalition. Its chairman Vojtech Filip said that according to his information, a majority of the social democrats are in favour of the coalition.
Filip also added that the Communists would also have no objection to supporting an Ano-only government.
Ano hasn’t revealed its nominees for the government and is waiting for the final results of the referendum. Babis is going to present the names to President Milos Zeman and then to the public.
After the referendum, the Communists want to reach a tolerance agreement with Ano, which will cover common policy areas as well as proposed candidates to head state-owned enterprises.
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