Meeting of coalition leaders fails to avert threat of coalition break-up

Wednesday’s meeting of coalition leaders over a controversial police reform failed to avert the threat of a coalition break-up. According to Christian Democrat leader Pavel Bělobrádek the situation is grave and ANO party leader Andrej Babiš made clear his intention to walk out of the coalition if the interior minister signs the proposed reform plan. Mr. Bělobrádek appealed on the Social Democratic Party to reconsider pushing the changes through by force, saying that he tended to agree with Mr. Babiš that a reform of the police force requires consensus within the ruling coalition. The Social Democratic Party has yet to comment on the latest developments.