Economist Sedláček: Sensible government could be formed by ANO and Spolu without Babiš

Economist and director of the Václav Havel Library, Tomáš Sedláček, said that a reasonable government could be formed by the winning ANO party together with the Spolu (Together) coalition—but without ANO leader Andrej Babiš. He noted that although Babiš and Prime Minister Petr Fiala of the Civic Democrats (ODS) ruled out such cooperation before the election, post-election reality might differ. Sedláček told the Czech News Agency that if President Petr Pavel tasks Babiš with forming a government, he will not succeed on his own and may then turn to Spolu. “If they agree that the former prime minister will not be the head of government, it could be a relatively sensible coalition,” he said. He praised the high voter turnout and expressed satisfaction that, in his words, “extremist parties trying to plough up Havel’s legacy ended where they belong—at the bottom.” Sedláček also pointed out that Spolu, the Mayors and Independents (STAN), and the Pirates together received more votes than ANO.