Prague, June 19 (CTK) – The Czech government will not have to undergo a vote of confidence in the Chamber of Deputies if changes are made in its coalition agreement, Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka (Social Democrats, CSSD) and Finance Minister Andrej Babis (ANO) agreed in a TV discussion programme today.
Right-wing opposition leader Petr Fiala (Civic Democrats, ODS) opposed this view.
On the other hand, Vojtech Filip, chairman of the senior opposition Communists (KSCM), said in the discussion broadcast by Czech Television (CT) that a confidence vote was not needed.
Babis claims that Interior Minister Milan Chovanec (CSSD) recently violated the coalition agreement by signing a planned police reform without discussing it in the coalition. The CSSD dismissed this. ANO threatened to leave the government because of the police reform. Later it said it only wants to make changes in the coalition agreement.
Sobotka told CT a confidence vote is not necessary as he does not expect any fundamental changes to be made in the coalition agreement.
He said the division of the ministries for which individual coalition parties are responsible is unlikely to change.
Sobotka said the government should set its priorities for the end of the election period.
The general election is due in the autumn of 2017.
Babis said he wants the steps taken by Chovanec to be explained. In the coalition agreement, ANO would like to deal with details related to the convoking of coalition talks and their programme, he said.
The CSSD and ANO clashed over a police reform including the merger of the elite anti-mafia and anti-corruption police squads. According to ANO, the changes have not been prepared well and the aim of the reform is to get rid of anti-mafia squad chief Robert Slachta. Slachta resigned on his post last week in protest against the reform.
The Social Democrats support the reform.
The Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL), who are the smallest coalition partner, say a stable government needs to be maintained and the police restructuring should not influence criminal cases under investigation.
