Czech billionaire and populist Andrej Babis said he could include ministers nominated by eurosceptic and far-right parties in a government he is trying to form after his ANO party won parliamentary elections but failed to get a majority, reports "Reuters", reports News.bg.
Initially, after the October 3-4 vote, Babis said he wanted a minority cabinet with only ANO, supported in parliament by the eurosceptic „Motorists“ and the far-right, anti-EU and anti-NATO party of Social Democrats (SDP), but both wanted to be part of the government.
“We are negotiating a joint government“, Babis later said.
“The SDP should have a certain number of ministries where they want to have non-partisan experts representing them, and “Motorists“ want their politicians who ran in the elections to be there“, he noted.
ANO is a member of the “Patriots for Europe“ group in the European Parliament, along with a number of far-right parties. ANO plans to exclude the implementation of already negotiated European Union agreements on migration and decarbonization.
“Motorists“, also members of “Patriots for Europe“, oppose the end of internal combustion engines and other climate policies.
The Social Democratic Party wants referendum on leaving the EU and NATO, but Babis has categorically rejected any such moves. The SDP has also called for a cut in all aid to Ukraine, including funds for hundreds of thousands of refugees residing in the Czech Republic.
Babiš said he had paid more attention to domestic and European affairs and less support for Ukraine than the outgoing center-right cabinet, including possibly scrapping a Czech program to supply artillery ammunition to Kiev. He has criticized the scheme for inflated prices and a lack of transparency.
President Petr Pavel, who helped create the ammunition scheme and is a key player in post-election negotiations because he appoints the prime minister, yesterday urged parties to keep the program.
If Babis reaches a coalition deal, the formation of a new cabinet would be weeks away.
Pavel convened the first session of the new lower house of parliament for November 3.
A new speaker of the chamber will have to be elected at the first sitting before the outgoing cabinet officially resigns - the earliest point at which a new prime minister can be appointed.