Party leaderships discussing crisis scenarios

At a late night meeting on Wednesday the Social Democratic Party leadership agreed that the best possible solution to the crisis would be a coalition of the same three parties without the presence of Andrej Babis in the cabinet. Prime Minister Sobotka said on Thursday that if President Zeman gave the Social Democrats the chance to form a cabinet both Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek and Interior Minister Milan Chovanec would be suitable candidates for the post of prime minister. While Prime Minister Sobotka said he had no problem relinquishing his post, Mr. Babis’ ANO party has rejected the idea of a government set-up without him. All three coalition parties are against the idea of early elections favoured by the opposition Civic Democrats and TOP 09. Under Czech law it will be up to the president to accept or refuse the government’s resignation and decide on a future course of action. President Zeman has been meeting with party leaders in order to get more insight into the crisis. Regular elections are scheduled to take place in October.