Czech President Petr Pavel has chosen populist Andrej Babiš, the winner of a parliamentary election, to form the next government, Reuters reports.
Since the election in early October, Babiš’s party has been in talks with the right-wing Eurosceptic Motorists party and the far-right Eurosceptic SPD, which would give it a combined 108 seats in the 200-seat lower house of parliament. The parties are currently finalizing a joint government plan that is expected to lead to higher spending, less support for Ukraine and stronger opposition to the European Union’s migration and climate policies than under outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s centre-right government.
Pavel said that he entrusted Babiš with forming a government due to the progress of the party negotiations, and that he would review the government’s work plan in the second half of this week.
The request to officially lead the government formation talks is the next step in the transfer of power, and only if everything goes well can Babiš be appointed prime minister.
Babiš wrote on the “X” that he plans to form a government by mid-December,
and that the president has been informed about individual parts of the program, including foreign policy.
After the work plan is drawn up, the parties will have to agree on the nomination of ministers. Babiš’s party officials have indicated that the work plan does not question the reliance on EU and NATO principles. In turn, the SPD has demanded a referendum on these issues.
Pavel, a former NATO official, called on the parties to maintain the Czech Republic-led donation program that supplies ammunition to Ukraine.
The president appoints the prime minister and ministers, while the current parliament will meet for the last time on the 3rd of November. That is the closest moment Babiš can be officially appointed prime minister.
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