Czech defence minister raises doubts about government participation

Czech defence minister Karla Šlechtová has warned that she does not necessarily have to be in a new government headed by current prime minister and ANO leader Andrej Babiš.

Šlechtová’s comments follow revelations in Wednesday’s edition of the daily Lidové Noviny that she paid hundreds of thousands of crowns for the use of the VIP airport lounges at Prague’s airport in her previous post as minister for regional development.

Šlechtová has accused the newspaper, which is owned by Babiš, of waging a campaign against her.

The minister was in recent months frequently floated as an alternative ANO leader who might be tasked with creating a new government if Babiš failed.

Author: Chris Johnstone