Czech Social Democrats Mull Cabinet Talks After Changing Leader
- Parliamentary Vice Chairman Hamacek will lead Social Democrats
- Party says Babis’s criminal probe is ‘fundamental problem’
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The opposition Czech Social Democratic Party picked parliamentary Deputy Speaker Jan Hamacek as its new chairman, opening the way for government talks with billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis whose ANO party is struggling to find ruling partners.
Hamacek, 39, beat Jiri Zimola for the post, with both saying they were ready to negotiate with ANO about potential cooperation. While party delegates approved a mandate for the new leadership to hold government talks, they also called on ANO to refrain from nominating people to the cabinet who are under criminal investigation. That refers to a fraud probe against Babis tied to the misuse of European Union funds, an allegation that he rejects as politically motivated.