Prague, Oct 13 (CTK) – Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Belobradek, leader of the Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL), insists on the criticism of Finance Minister Andrej Babis and his ANO movement that violated some democratic rules in the Chamber of Deputies, Belobradek said yesterday.
He said he hoped that the situation in the government coalition would calm down.
Last Sunday, Belobradek told the public Czech Television (CT) that that his party is losing patience with the attitude of ANO and its leader Babis to the breaches of certain democratic rules in the Chamber of Deputies.
On Monday, Babis accused Christian Democrat deputy chairman Jan Bartosek and Social Democrat MP Ladislav sincl (Social Democrats, CSSD) of being manipulated by the gambling lobby.
Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (CSSD) said Babis should definitely apologise.
Babis said he was not going to make an apology. He said the coalition does not function well now and that either it will act in unity, or it existence is meaningless.
According to opinion polls, ANO is more popular than the CSSD, which won the elections held in late 2013.
Babis said recently that the traditional political parties will have to get used to that no regard will be paid for the opposition in the Chamber of Deputies.
The billionaire Babis, owner of the Agrofert agriculture, food-processing, chemical and media holding, founded the ANO movement in 2011. One of his election slogans was that he wants to control the state like a firm.
Belobradek said ANO has had two years since the general election to learn the democratic principles.
In reaction, ANO said this was a pointless attack on a government coalition partner and nobody forced the KDU-CSL to be sitting on the coalition government.
Belobradek told journalists yesterday that the rights of a minority must be maintained, which must not blackmail the majority at the same time.
He said the KDU-CSL wants the coalition government to keep operating.
Belobradek said Babis should either prove his accusation or apologise.
“A majority must not override, crush and marginalise a minority and a minority must not obstruct the majority from bearing its responsibility,” Belobradek said.
He said his criticism cannot be a surprise for ANO because the KDU-CSL presented such critical views during the coalition negotiations as well.
The Christian Democrats do not wish to escalate the tense situation in the government coalition, Belobradek said.
PM Sobotka said he is glad the country has a stable government with a clear majority.
