Social Democrats make thinly-veiled attack on ANO in congress resolution

The Social Democrats have made a thinly-veiled attack on their ANO coalition partners in a programme resolution passed at a party congress in Prague on Saturday. The document states that the Czech Republic’s system of democracy cannot be the subject of manipulation by rich oligarchs who own and control companies, the media and political groupings. ANO are headed by Andrej Babiš, a billionaire businessman who runs one of the country’s biggest firms and owns daily newspapers and the most popular Czech radio station. The Social Democrats said that in order to avoid Czech democracy becoming a “parody” legislation needed to be introduced defining conflict of interest more clearly and tightening rules on party financing. ANO came from virtually nowhere to finish second in elections in 2013 and have consistently topped opinion polls.

Author: Ian Willoughby