PRAGUE - ANO chairman and likely future PM Andrej Babiš agrees in principle with the pre-negotiated programme of the emerging government of ANO, the SPD and the Motorists for Ourselves, according to deputy chair Karel Havlíček. Havlíček told Czech Television after the meeting on Sunday that the document is almost finished and that compromises have been found that are appropriate for all three parties. He said the programme "overwhelmingly copies the ANO election programme".
Agreement on the main chapters
According to iRozhlas, the negotiating teams agreed on the main chapters, which include, among other things, the digitisation of state administration, science and research, support for tradesmen and measures against expensive energy. The proposal also includes the creation of a government commissioner for digitalisation, who would fall directly under the prime minister or deputy prime minister. Havlicek also said that spending on science should rise to more than two percent of GDP.
As Deník N pointed out, the leadership of all three parties will still have the opportunity to fine-tune the proposal, but according to negotiators, "in the program part, practically everything is done". The document should be officially presented to President Petr Pavel in the coming days.
Broad consensus between ANO and SPD
According to both parties, the consensus between ANO and SPD is high. The SPD chairman Tomio Okamura and Vice-Chairwoman of ANO Alena Schillerová spoke on Terezie Tománková's Partie Terezie Tománková on CNN Prima News about the "95 percent consensus". As reported by ČT24, both movements say they have succeeded in implementing most of their election promises.
Okamura stressed, for example, that the upcoming cabinet will reject the adoption of the euro, the introduction of emission allowances for households, and the EU migration pact. According to E15, the SPD also managed to agree on strengthening support for Czech companies and farmers.
The role of Motorists for themselves
According to Seznam Zprav, the third member of the coalition, the Motorists for Ourselves focused mainly on the chapters on digitalisation, transport and cybersecurity. Party representatives said they were satisfied with the negotiations and that the resulting programme is "practically in line with their priorities".
However, personnel issues remain on the agenda. As Czech Television pointed out, the coalition council is scheduled to discuss the filling of positions in the lower house on Wednesday. According to current information, Okamura could become the chair of the lower house, a possibility he admitted on Sunday. The parties have so far remained silent on ministerial posts. Schillerová said it was up to the Motorists to nominate Filip Turek for foreign minister. At the same time, ANO deputy chairman Radek Vondráček noted on Prima that "if Turek does not defend his nomination, it will be a serious problem".
Towards a new government
As iRozhlas wrote, the coalition is now moving "at the stage of final agreements" and should have a complete team and programme statement by the beginning of November at the latest. The programme, which is presented as "conservative with modern elements", is to be according to E15 aimed at stabilising public finances, protecting national interests in the EU and strengthening the Czech Republic's self-sufficiency.
The emerging tri-bloc ANO-SPD-Motorists could thus assume executive responsibility within a few weeks. If the personnel composition of the cabinet and the parliamentary positions can be finalized, it will be the first government to rely on a majority after 2021 without the support of the existing parliamentary parties of the ruling five-party coalition.
gnews.cz - GH
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