Babiš attacks Constutional Court over electoral law ruling

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš launched a stinging attack on the Constitutional Court after it made a ruling on the electoral law that will make it easier for coalitions for parties to stand together in general elections. Mr. Babiš told journalists that the court was attempting to influence politics and would shake people’s faith in the constitutional system.

The PM accused the court’s chief justice, Pavel Rychetský, of being biased and called on him to say whether he would stand for president on the ticket of the Mayors and Independents, one of the parties planning to stand in the elections as part of a coalition. This suggestion was later rejected by Mr. Rychetský.

Mr. Babiš also said that it would be hard for Parliament to agree on the wording of legislation that implements the court’s ruling and that this could lead to a situation where it would be impossible to form a functioning government following October’s elections.

President Miloš Zeman said that Wednesday’s ruling could bring about a constitutional crisis.