Social Democrats want coalition provision under which convicted cabinet member would step down

The Social Democrats will demand that any coalition deal with ANO include a provision under which any government member convicted by a court of first instance would have to resign. The position was revealed by the Social Democrats’ Martin Netolický on Friday and is a reaction to the fact that ANO leader Andrej Babiš and another senior party member are facing charges of abusing EU subsidies.

The Social Democrats say ANO have offered them five portofolios, including the post of minister of the interior.

Talks between the two parties broke down two weeks ago only for ANO, currently operating a government in resignation, to go back to the Social Democrats.

A coalition of the two would likely be supported by the Communists on key votes.

Author: Ian Willoughby