PRAGUE (Reuters) -Czech populist party ANO is close to agreeing a joint agenda with far-right and right-wing partners to form a new government after an election victory this month, a senior official said on Friday.
A government agenda is another step in the coalition talks as ANO, led by billionaire former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, seeks to return to power in the coming weeks.
The change in power is set to shift policy from higher fiscal spending and reduced aid for Ukraine’s defence against a Russian invasion to stronger opposition to European Union migration and climate policies.
ANO has been in talks with the right-wing, eurosceptic Motorists and the far-right, anti-EU and anti-NATO SPD parties, which combined would hold 108 out of the 200 seats in parliament’s lower house.
Karel Havlicek, helping to lead ANO’s government-forming talks, said on Friday about 95% of the prospective coalition’s programme had been agreed, with remaining parts to be discussed over the weekend.
ANO TO UPDATE PRESIDENT ON TALKS
The three parties must agree on nominees for ministerial roles next month.
“In the coming weeks … the personnel composition will be discussed, which will be presented to the president,” Havlicek said.
President Petr Pavel, who by law appoints prime ministers and ministers, has urged parties not to rush talks. He and Babis will meet on Monday for an update.
Parliament meets on November 3. The first session will elect a new speaker before the resignation of the current cabinet – the earliest time a new prime minister can be appointed.
ANCHORING IN EU, NATO REMAINS
Babis, a Donald Trump fan and ally of Hungary’s Viktor Orban, has flagged more focus on domestic and EU affairs and no support for Ukraine from the national budget, a change from the outgoing centre-right government of Petr Fiala.
It might scrap a foreign-funded programme shipping artillery ammunition to Kyiv which Pavel and Fiala have championed. Babis has called it overpriced and non-transparent.
Havlicek said on Friday the war in Ukraine was addressed in the parties’ joint agenda but did not give details.
He said the country’s anchoring in the EU and NATO was explicit and “unquestionable” in the agenda. The SPD had campaigned demanding a law allowing a referendum on those issues.
The new government will try to push through a law allowing referendums on issues not related to EU and NATO membership.
This would need the support of the opposition to pass.
Havlicek said possible referendums could touch on questions of other international commitments.
(Reporting by Jason Hovet)
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