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Central Europe
November 23, 2018 www.intellinews.com I Page 12
Czech Social Democrats to abstain in no- confidence vote on Babis' government
bne IntelliNews
The Social Democrats (CSSD), the junior coalition partner in the Czech Republic’s government, have decided to abstain in the no-confidence vote taking place on November 23, the party’s chair and Minister of Interior Jan Hamacek announced on November 21.
“The prime minister’s personal problems are burdening the government. Therefore, our deputies will not take part in Friday’s vote, and at the same time we stated that the current government make-up has no alternative in the current division of power on the political scene,” said Hamacek, Reuters reported.
Together with the Communist Party, the CSSD will allow Babis’ government to survive the no-confidence motion, which takes place two weeks after Babis came under intense political pressure in connection with the Stork Nest case. Their decision makes it unlikely that the opposition can secure the 101 votes needed for the parliament to declare no-confidence
in Babis' government.
Czechia’s populist prime minister has been facing the crisis that could cost him his job after inves- tigative journalists from online server Seznam.
cz spent a year tracking down his son's wherea- bouts. Babis Junior claimed his father kidnapped him and held him captive in the Crimea to prevent him from testifying in the corruption case.
Babis pleads innocence in the matter and says he does not see any reason why he should resign. “I will never resign, never. Everyone should remember that. Never,” he sent a clear message to the opposition.
The prime minister claimed that his son is mentally ill and on strong medication, although the extent of his son’s mental health problems has been disputed.
The leaders of six opposition parties with 92 votes between them in the 200-member lower chamber of parliament have been pushing for a no-confidence vote in the government since the crisis started.