Babiš had aimed to form a single-party minority government propped up by the tacit support of the two parties, but that goal appears difficult to attain, as both the Motorists and SPD say they want to participate directly in the government.
In Czechia, the president has a kingmaker role in deciding who will be tasked with forming the government, choosing the leader most likely to secure a majority. However, the election winner usually gets the first chance. Once the government is established, the president appoints the prime minister and ministers, but the Cabinet must still win a vote of confidence in the lower chamber.
Pavel previously said he is consulting lawyers on the question of whether to block Babiš over the potential conflict of interest posed by the tycoon’s large agriculture empire, Agrofert.
On Sunday, Babiš presented the president with options as to how he will resolve the issue, all of which “are ways to comply with the law,” Pavel said.
Now Babiš can breathe a sigh of relief, as Pavel hinted he would approve his appointment as long as he can form a government.
“Once the parties forming the government reach an agreement on their program overlaps and on the personnel appointments, then — if there is such a will — there will be no reason to delay, and it will be possible to task the election with government formation,” said Pavel.
Pavel also urged the next government to keep the Prague-led ammunition initiative, which delivers millions of rounds to Kyiv, but ANO pledged in the election campaign to cancel it due to a lack of transparency, suggesting that NATO should run the scheme instead.
“This is primarily about our credibility — both in relation to occupied Ukraine, which depends on our ammunition supplies, and with our partners in the EU. Ending it would harm our standing not only with our partners but also in Ukraine, where it would lead to many more deaths,” Pavel said about the ammo scheme.