President Pavel appoints ANO party leader Babiš prime minister

President Petr Pavel appointed ANO party leader Andrej Babiš prime minister at Prague Castle on Tuesday morning. Babiš returns to the post after nearly four years and will become prime minister for the third time. At 71, he will be the oldest politician to lead a Czech or Czechoslovak government.

The rest of the cabinet—formed by ANO with the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party and the Motorists' party— will be appointed on Monday, 15 December.

With the cabinet in place, Babiš will be able to attend the European Council meeting scheduled for 18–19 December. Before Christmas, he also hopes to convene two cabinet sessions. The new government will likely have to draft its own budget, as the coalition parties are dissatisfied with the version submitted by the outgoing administration of Prime Minister Petr Fiala (Civic Democrats).