The winner of the elections and the country’s likely successor, the populist Andrey Babis, signed a cooperation agreement with the parties Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) and the right-wing Motorists (Motoristé sebo).
The coalition will hold 108 of the 200 seats in the lower house of parliament. Babis’ Action of Dissatisfied Citizens 2011 (ANO) holds 80 seats, the SPD 15 and the Motorists 13.
After today’s development, the president of the Czech Republic will have to immediately appoint the prime minister and the ministers proposed by the prime minister, while a vote of confidence in the parliament will follow within the next 30 days.
To Babis government despite concerns about conflict of interest
Babis, a billionaire agricultural tycoon, is causing a stir in Brussels, as a Babis administration will strengthen extreme populist forces at the European level.
Despite his opponents raising questions about a possible conflict of interest should he become prime minister, Czech President Petr Pavel gave him the go-ahead to form a government last week, widely seen as a decisive step for him to head the government.
Babis and his right-wing populist movement, ANO, are probably the least extreme party in a future government if it consists of the parties that signed the deal. A coalition government between the ANO, SPD and MS is sure to derail efforts to find solutions on issues such as immigration and the climate, while with the addition of the Motorists they will also fight against the abolition of internal combustion engines.
