Second Cabinet of Andrej Babiš explained

Cabinet Name:Second Cabinet of Andrej Babiš
Cabinet Number:15th
Jurisdiction:Czech Republic
Flag:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Date Formed:27 June 2018
Date Dissolved:17 December 2021
Government Head:Andrej Babiš
Deputy Government Head:Jan Hamáček
Richard Brabec (2017–2019)
State Head:Miloš Zeman
Current Number:15
Former Members Number:2
Total Number:17
Political Parties:ANO (10 ministers)
ČSSD (5 ministers)
Legislature Status:Minority coalition:
Opposition Parties:Opposition
Election:2017 Czech legislative election
Previous:Andrej Babiš' First Cabinet
Successor:Cabinet of Petr Fiala

The second cabinet of Andrej Babiš was a centre-left to centre-right minority coalition government in the Czech Republic, consisting of ANO 2011, a populist political movement, and the centre-left Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD). The coalition received external support from the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM).[1] [2] The head of government was Andrej Babiš, leader of ANO.

The cabinet was approved by the Chamber of Deputies on 12 July 2018 with a 105–91 vote.[3] The Communist Party withdrew its support for the government on 13 April 2021. The government left office on 17 December 2021, and was replaced by Petr Fiala's Cabinet.

Background

The general election in 2017 was won by ANO, led by Andrej Babiš, who received 78 seats out of 200, becoming the largest party.[4] President Miloš Zeman appointed Babiš to form a government,[5] but all other parliamentary parties had ruled out entering a coalition with ANO due to an ongoing police investigation into Babiš's alleged subsidy fraud.[6] [7] In early 2018, Babiš lost a confidence vote to form an ANO minority government, with all other parties voting against.[7] In 2018, ČSSD decided to enter coalition talks with ANO.[8] In April, the negotiations broke down.[9] President Miloš Zeman subsequently gave Babiš a second chance to form a government.[10] In May, ČSSD accepted talks with ANO, with KSČM also participating to determine the conditions for its support of an ANO-ČSSD government.[11] [12] [13]

Government formation

The cabinet consisted of two coalition parties. ANO, the senior coalition partner in the government, had 10 ministers (including Prime Minister). The Social Democrats had four ministers and held five ministries, as President Zeman refused to appoint Miroslav Poche, the party's nominee for Foreign Minister, and Jan Hamáček was appointed as acting Foreign Minister.[14]

The coalition held 93 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, eight seats short of a simple majority of 101, and therefore required the support of another party to provide confidence and supply. KSČM agreed to support the minority government in exchange for cabinet support for several of their demands.[15] With KSČM support, the government controlled a majority of 108 seats. On 15 June 2018, following approval in a referendum of party members,[16] ČSSD formed a coalition with ANO.

The cabinet was approved by the Chamber of Deputies in the early morning of 12 July 2018 with a 105-91 vote, during a parliamentary session which had begun the previous morning.[3] During the debate, deputies from TOP 09 left the Chamber in protest (they later returned to vote against the government), while some deputies from the Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party unfurled a Soviet flag to protest against the government being supported by the Communist Party. Street protests also took place in Prague against the role of the Communists in the government.

Resignations over plagiarism

Shortly after the formation of the cabinet, two ministers (Taťána Malá of ANO and Petr Krčál of ČSSD) resigned after being accused of plagiarism in their bachelor theses.[17]

On 24 July 2018, another minister, Lubomír Metnar (Independent for ANO) also came under suspicion of plagiarism in his diploma thesis.[18]

Cabinet members

Portfolio! rowspan="2"
MinisterPartyOffice
TookLeft
Prime MinisterAndrej BabišANO6 June 201817 December 2021
First Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Interior
Jan HamáčekČSSD27 June 201817 December 2021
Deputy Prime MinisterRichard BrabecANO27 June 2018[19] 30 April 2019
Alena SchillerováInd. for ANO30 April 201917 December 2021
Karel HavlíčekInd. for ANO30 April 201917 December 2021
Minister of Foreign AffairsJan Hamáček (acting)ČSSD27 June 201815 October 2018
Tomáš Petříček16 October 2018 12 April 2021[20]
Jan Hamáček (acting)12 April 202121 April 2021
Jakub Kulhánek21 April 2021[21] 17 December 2021
Minister of FinanceAlena SchillerováInd. for ANO27 June 2018[22] 17 December 2021
Minister of HealthAdam VojtěchInd. for ANO27 June 201821 September 2020
Roman PrymulaInd. for ANO21 September 2020[23] 29 October 2020
Jan BlatnýInd. for ANO29 October 2020[24] 7 April 2021
Petr ArenbergerInd. for ANO7 April 2021[25] 26 May 2021[26]
Adam VojtěchInd. for ANO26 May 2021[27] 17 December 2021
Minister of the EnvironmentRichard BrabecANO27 June 201817 December 2021
Minister of Labour and Social AffairsPetr KrčálČSSD27 June 201818 July 2018[28]
Jana Maláčová30 July 2018[29] 17 December 2021
Minister of Industry and TradeMarta NovákováANO27 June 201830 April 2019
Karel HavlíčekInd. for ANO30 April 2019[30] 17 December 2021
Minister of JusticeTaťána MaláANO27 June 201810 July 2018[31]
Jan KněžínekInd. for ANO10 July 2018[32] 30 April 2019[33]
Marie BenešováInd. for ANO30 April 201917 December 2021
Minister of Education, Youth and SportRobert PlagaANO27 June 201817 December 2021
Minister of DefenceLubomír MetnarInd. for ANO27 June 201817 December 2021
Minister of TransportDan ŤokInd. for ANO27 June 2018[34] 30 April 2019
Vladimír KremlíkInd. for ANO30 April 201920 January 2020
Karel HavlíčekInd. for ANO20 January 2020[35] 17 December 2021
Minister for Regional DevelopmentKlára DostálováInd. for ANO27 June 201817 December 2021
Minister of AgricultureMiroslav TomanInd. for ČSSD27 June 201817 December 2021
Minister of CultureAntonín StaněkČSSD27 June 201831 July 2019
Lubomír ZaorálekČSSD27 August 2019[36] 17 December 2021

Popular mandate

Support for governing parties according to the popular vote.

Member partyPopular votePercentageMPsMinistersLeader
ANO1,500,11329.64%7810Andrej Babiš
ČSSD368,3477.27%155Jan Hamáček
Government1,868,46036.91%9315Andrej Babiš
KSČM393,1007.76%150Vojtěch Filip
Govt. & support2,261,56044.67%10815Andrej Babiš
Czech Republic5,091,065100%200

Confidence motion

Motion of confidence
Andrej Babiš (ANO)
Ballot →11 July 2018
Required majority →99 out of 196 (simple)
Abstentions
Sources:[37]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ČSSD v referendu schválila vládu s ANO. Babiš však ještě nemá vyhráno. 2018-06-15. iDNES.cz. 2018-06-24.
  2. Web site: Babiš je podruhé premiérem. Hájil, že vláda bude opřená o komunisty. 2018-06-06. iDNES.cz. 2018-06-24.
  3. News: Czech government wins confidence vote backed by Communists. 12 July 2018. Arab News. 21 August 2018.
  4. News: Billionaire candidate wins Czech election. BBC News . 22 October 2017.
  5. News: Police charge Czech PM candidate Babis with subsidy fraud. Reuters . 9 October 2017 .
  6. News: Czech Babis gains possible support in bid for minority government. Reuters . 30 October 2017 .
  7. News: Czech PM Babis battles fraud charges as cabinet loses confidence vote. Robert. Muller. Reuters . 15 January 2018 .
  8. News: Czech PM will talk exclusively to social democrats on new government. Reuters . 15 March 2018 .
  9. Web site: Czech coalition talks break down. msn.com. 2018-09-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20180616153518/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/czech-coalition-talks-break-down/ar-AAvyq3O. 2018-06-16. dead.
  10. Web site: Czech president gives Andrej Babis 2nd chance to form gov't.
  11. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/czech-leftwing-party-returns-to-coalition-talks/ar-AAw7ANd_
  12. News: Czech PM Babis wants deal on ministries this week in renewed govt.... Reuters . 15 April 2018 .
  13. Web site: Czech centre left part agrees to join government . 15 June 2018. usnews.com. 2020-10-07.
  14. Web site: Prezident jmenoval vládu bez Pocheho. Půjde ji osobně podpořit před poslance. 2018-06-27. iDNES.cz. 2018-06-27.
  15. News: Opposition move could end Czech wait for government. Financial Times. 12 June 2018 .
  16. Web site: VNITROSTRANICKÉ REFERENDUM O VSTUPU DO VLÁDY . ČSSD. 2020-10-07.
  17. http://www.radio.cz/en/section/curraffrs/second-minister-resigns-over-allegations-of-plagiarism Second minister resigns over allegations of plagiarism
  18. Web site: Ministr obrany Metnar má problém s diplomovou prací, řádně necitoval. July 24, 2018. iDNES.cz.
  19. since 29 January 2014 as Minister of the Environment within Bohuslav Sobotka's Cabinet and Andrej Babiš' First Cabinet, since 24 May 2017 as Deputy PM within Bohuslav Sobotka's Cabinet and Andrej Babiš' First Cabinet
  20. News: Zeman odvolal Petříčka, Hamáček chce jednat s Rusy o Sputniku. A Zaorálek váhá s přesunem. 12 April 2021 . CNC. 12 April 2021.
  21. News: Prezident Zeman jmenoval Kulhánka ministrem zahraničí. Rusko vynechal. 21 April 2021 . PRÁVO. 21 April 2021.
  22. since 13 December 2017 within Andrej Babiš' First Cabinet
  23. News: Adama Vojtěcha nahradí v čele ministerstva zdravotnictví Prymula. K nelibosti opozice . 21 September 2020 . E15 . 21 September 2020.
  24. News: Zeman jmenoval Blatného. Strach nás paralyzuje, řekl nový šéf zdravotnictví. 2 November 2020 . E15 . 29 October 2020.
  25. News: Nový ministr zdravotnictví Arenberger je zkušeným kožním lékařem, rok a půl vedl fakultní nemocnici. 7 April 2021 . Česká Televize . 7 April 2021.
  26. News: Končí ministr, kterému zlomili vaz kostlivci v podobě majetku. 25 May 2021 . PRÁVO. 25 May 2021.
  27. News: Vrací se ministr, který nedokázal vzdorovat. Velvyslancem se stane příští rok. 25 May 2021 . seznamzpravy.cz . 25 May 2021.
  28. http://praguebusinessjournal.com/zeman-accepts-krcals-resignation-will-appoint-malacova-next-week/ Zeman Accepts Krcal’s Resignation, Will Appoint Malacova Next Week
  29. http://www.radio.cz/en/section/news/incoming-labour-minister-to-propose-higher-parental-leave-benefit Incoming labour minister to propose higher parental leave benefit
  30. News: Nastupující ministr průmyslu Havlíček: Mé pracovní tempo je vražedné, za workoholismus se nestydím. iRozhlas.cz. 2019-04-15. cs.
  31. News: Ministryně spravedlnosti Malá odstoupí z funkce, obvinění ale považuje za kampaň. Česká Televize. ČT24. 2018-07-09. cs.
  32. News: News site: Jan Kněžínek to become justice minister. Czech Radio. 2018-07-10. en.
  33. News: Doprava, spravedlnost a průmysl mají nové ministry, vláda nové vicepremiéry. ČT24. 2019-04-30. cs.
  34. since 4 December 2014 within Bohuslav Sobotka's Cabinet and Andrej Babiš' First Cabinet
  35. News: Superministr Havlíček přebral dopravu. Kremlík náměstkem nebude, řekl Babiš. SeznamZpravy.cz . 2020-01-24. cs.
  36. News: Kultura má opět ministra, prezident jmenoval Lubomíra Zaorálka . ČT24 . 2019-04-30. cs.
  37. Web site: Hlasování Poslanecké sněmovny - 17/7. www.psp.cz. cs. 2018-07-12.