This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/22/anti-establishment-billionaire-andrej-babis-to-be-named-czech-pm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Anti-establishment billionaire Andrej Babiš to be named Czech PM Anti-establishment billionaire Andrej Babiš to be named Czech PM
(35 minutes later)
The Czech president, Miloš Zeman, has said he will name Andrej Babiš as prime minister, but the tycoon leader of the anti-establishment ANO party may struggle to find coalition partners despite his emphatic election win.The Czech president, Miloš Zeman, has said he will name Andrej Babiš as prime minister, but the tycoon leader of the anti-establishment ANO party may struggle to find coalition partners despite his emphatic election win.
ANO won 29.6% of the vote in the election on Friday and Saturday, nearly three times as much as its closest rival, but many parties expressed reluctance about or rejected outright the idea of forming a coalition with it while Babiš fights off fraud charges. ANO won 29.6% of the vote in the election on Friday and Saturday, nearly three times as much as its closest rival, but many parties expressed reluctance about forming a coalition with it while Babiš fights off fraud charges, or rejected the idea outright.
Zeman said the charges were not an obstacle to Babiš – the second richest Czech, who has been compared to other tycoons turned political leaders such as Donald Trump and Silvio Berlusconi – becoming prime minister. Zeman said the charges were not an obstacle to Babiš to becoming prime minister. The tycoon is the second richest person in the Czech Republic, and has been compared to other tycoons turned political leaders such as Donald Trump and Silvio Berlusconi.
“My aim is that when I appoint the prime minister, and that will be Andrej Babiš, that there is certainty or at least high probability that this prime minister will be successful in a parliamentary vote of confidence,” Zeman said in a live interview on the news website Blesk.cz.“My aim is that when I appoint the prime minister, and that will be Andrej Babiš, that there is certainty or at least high probability that this prime minister will be successful in a parliamentary vote of confidence,” Zeman said in a live interview on the news website Blesk.cz.
ANO will control 78 seats in the 200-seat lower house, so it will need partners from the other eight factions to form a majority, but Babiš’s stance as an anti-establishment force has made it difficult to forge alliances.ANO will control 78 seats in the 200-seat lower house, so it will need partners from the other eight factions to form a majority, but Babiš’s stance as an anti-establishment force has made it difficult to forge alliances.
Opponents see Babiš, worth an estimated $4bn, as a danger to democracy because of his commanding leadership style and business and media power, which they fear could pose conflicts of interest. Opponents see Babiš, who is worth an estimated $4bn (£3.4bn), as a danger to democracy because of his commanding leadership style and his business and media power, which they fear could pose conflicts of interest.
Police allege Babiš hid ownership of one of his firms a decade ago to receive a €2m EU subsidy that was meant for small businesses. He denies wrongdoing.Police allege Babiš hid ownership of one of his firms a decade ago to receive a €2m EU subsidy that was meant for small businesses. He denies wrongdoing.
He moved his chemicals, food and media firms to a trust this year when he held the job of finance minister, to meet conflict of interest legislation.He moved his chemicals, food and media firms to a trust this year when he held the job of finance minister, to meet conflict of interest legislation.
The centre-right Civic Democrats, who came second in the election with 25 seats, said they would remain in opposition. “I have already ruled out talks with ANO on taking part in a government or supporting a government,” the party chief, Petr Fiala, said on Seznam.cz.The centre-right Civic Democrats, who came second in the election with 25 seats, said they would remain in opposition. “I have already ruled out talks with ANO on taking part in a government or supporting a government,” the party chief, Petr Fiala, said on Seznam.cz.
Two small centre-right parties, STAN and TOP09, also said they would not work with Babiš. “I can’t legitimise him and create the appearance of normality,” Jan Farsky, the election leader for STAN, told Reuters. “Democratic forces got trounced but they will not regain strength by cooperation with Babiš. That would finish them off.”Two small centre-right parties, STAN and TOP09, also said they would not work with Babiš. “I can’t legitimise him and create the appearance of normality,” Jan Farsky, the election leader for STAN, told Reuters. “Democratic forces got trounced but they will not regain strength by cooperation with Babiš. That would finish them off.”
The centre-left Social Democrats of the outgoing prime minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, who won just 7.3% of the vote, said they may enter talks with ANO, their current coalition partner, but only if Babiš personally stayed out of the cabinet. The centre-left Social Democrats of the outgoing prime minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, who won just 7.3% of the vote, said they may enter talks with ANO, their current coalition partner, but only if Babiš stayed out of the cabinet.
The centrist Christian Democrats, the third current coalition partner, also made any potential support conditional on Babiš not being in the government. The liberal Pirate party, which came third in the election, said Babiš’s charges were obstacle to any cooperation.The centrist Christian Democrats, the third current coalition partner, also made any potential support conditional on Babiš not being in the government. The liberal Pirate party, which came third in the election, said Babiš’s charges were obstacle to any cooperation.
Babiš has promised to keep the Czech Republic out of the eurozone and to pressure the EU to reduce immigration, but also to keep the country firmly in the EU and Nato. Babiš has promised to keep the Czech Republic out of the eurozone and pressure the EU to reduce immigration, but also to keep the country firmly in the EU and Nato.
A refusal by mainstream parties to work with ANO could lead Babiš to turn to the Communists and the anti-EU, anti-immigration Freedom and Direct Democracy party (SPD) for political support.A refusal by mainstream parties to work with ANO could lead Babiš to turn to the Communists and the anti-EU, anti-immigration Freedom and Direct Democracy party (SPD) for political support.
The SPD chief, Tomio Okamura, said Babiš should stay out of the cabinet. His conditions for talks with the ANO were a tough stance against immigration, a ban on promoting Islam and a referendum on leaving the EU, he said. The SPD chief, Tomio Okamura, also said Babiš should stay out of the cabinet. His conditions for talks with the ANO were a tough stance against immigration, a ban on promoting Islam and a referendum on leaving the EU, he said.
The makeup of the cabinet will influence the country’s approach in the EU, but Babiš does not share with Poland’s Jarosław Kaczyński and Hungary’s Viktor Orbán the anti-liberal stance that has driven Warsaw and Budapest into deep spats with western partners. The makeup of the cabinet will influence the country’s approach in the EU, but Babiš does not share the anti-liberal stance of Poland’s Jarosław Kaczyński and Hungary’s Viktor Orbán that has driven Warsaw and Budapest into deep spats with western partners.
Zeman said he would meet Babiš on Monday to discuss the next steps but suggested the formal appointment would happen later. He said he would call the first session of the new parliament after the maximum 30 days allowed by the constitution, to provide time for coalition talks. Zeman said he would meet Babiš on Monday to discuss the next steps, but suggested the formal appointment would happen later. He said he would call the first session of the new parliament after the maximum 30 days allowed by the constitution, to provide time for coalition talks.