Social Democrats to stick to resignation condition for coalition government

Social Democrat leader Jan Hamáček has said it will stick with its condition for entering a coalition government with ANO that any minister found guilty by a court on criminal charges should step down from his post.

Hamáček was speaking on Czech Television’s flagship Sunday current affairs programme.

The condition, which apparently targets ANO leader and current prime minister Andrej Babiš who is facing criminal charges over alleged EU subsidy fraud, has been given a cool reception by ANO leaders.

Hamáček also explained why the Social Democrats have preferred the offer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to that of defense.

Hamáček said that the defence ministry is in a catastrophic state after being in the hands of former minister Martin Stropnický. Current minister and fellow ANO minister, Karla Slechtová now described everything he had done as bad, he added. It was not for the Social Democrats to salvage a mess made by ANO, the Social Democrat leader said.