Prague, Oct 13 (CTK) – Czech Finance Minister Andrej Babis, whose ANO movement won the recent regional elections, sacrifices the posts of governors to win allies for the next government, which will emerge from the 2017 general election, daily Pravo writes about the post-election negotiations yesterday.
ANO won in nine out of 13 regions in the weekend elections, beating its government rival, the Social Democratic Party (CSSD), which lost nine of the regions it controlled from 2012 and only won in two.
Pravo writes that Babis already eyes the general election, scheduled for the autumn of 2017, after which he wants to become the prime minister.
Babis has made it clear that another party but ANO should gain the posts of governor in the Central Bohemia and Usti regions, even though ANO won there, Pravo writes.
“Our priority is to have a strong representation in the regional councils in order to be able to influence the financial management of the regions. We want it to be effective and to prevent clientelism and theft. Having the governor is not our priority,” Babis told Pravo.
In the Usti Region Babis has publicly supported outgoing governor Oldrich Bubenicek (Communists, KSCM), who could continue in the post heading a coalition with ANO, which will earn the movement the Communists’ gratitude, Pravo writes.
Referring to its source, Pravo writes that in the large Central Bohemia Region, Babis prefers sacrificing the leader of the winning ANO, Jaroslava Pokorna Jermanova, offering the post of governor to the popular leader of the Mayors and Independents (STAN), Vit Rakusan.
With this step, Babis may secure support of possible future partners after the value of STAN, who may not renew alliance with the unsuccessful TOP 09, has largely increased since the elections, Pravo writes.
The KSCM suffered a big loss in the regional elections, but Babis said before the elections already that he would have no problem cooperating with it. He needs allies for coalition government negotiations after the general election, Pravo writes.
