New Czech govt likely to lose confidence vote as far-right party denies support

The Czech far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy party (SPD) said on Thursday that it would not support a new minority government formed by ANO party leader Andrej Babis. SPD leader Tomio Okamura said that, while there were some common points on program, there were also many differences and the SPD had objections to several ministers. ANO refused to back the SPD’s plan to hold a referendum on leaving the EU – one of the party’s main campaign objectives. The refusal to back ANO makes it more likely that the government will lose a confidence vote next month. If Babis loses, he will stay in power in a caretaker capacity while another coalition arrangement is sought. Given ANO’s strength, however, it is almost impossible to form a government without it, Reuters reports.