President Pavel begins ministerial talks for Babiš’s emerging government

President Petr Pavel has begun consultations with candidates for the new government being formed by ANO party leader Andrej Babiš. The first to visit the Castle was ANO’s nominee for education minister, Robert Plaga, who said he expects t take up the post. According to the president’s office, Pavel shares the key priorities Plaga outlined. He then met ANO candidates for health and justice, Adam Vojtěch and Jeroným Tejc. Pavel praised the coalition’s health-care agenda and offered support for legislative reforms. With Tejc, he emphasised the need to safeguard judicial independence and discussed digitalisation and amnesty procedures.

Talks with nominees from ANO, the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party and the Motorists’ partyirs will continue until 10 December. Babiš could be appointed prime minister within a week of presenting how he will resolve his Agrofert conflict of interest. The proposed cabinet will have 16 members, including four from the Motorists’ party. Pavel has reservations about Motorists’ MP Filip Turek becoming environment minister, favouring party chairman Petr Macinka for the post instead.