The Czech coalition government survived the no-confidence vote

Czech coalition government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis survives no-confidence vote in parliament over coronavirus pandemic

June 3, 2021, 9:13 p.m.

2 min reading

PRAGUE – The Czech coalition government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis survived a no-confidence vote in parliament on Thursday over the treatment of coronavirus pandemic.

Five opposition parties have also requested a vote as prosecutors consider whether to indict Babis for alleged fraud involving EU funds in a separate case, and a recent EU report concluded Babis had a conflict of interest over EU subsidies involving his former business empire.

Babis denies any injustice.

Only 89 opposition lawmakers voted late Thursday at the end of a nearly 14-hour session to overthrow the government, well below the 101 needed in the 200-seat lower house.

Babis ’centrist movement ANO (DA) is in a minority government with left-wing Social Democrats. She recently lost the support of the Communist Party.

But the Communists refused to vote against the government, left the lower house and did not participate in the debate and vote.

The Czech Republic is one of the hardest hit European countries since the pandemic. A nation of 10.7 million people had nearly 1.7 million confirmed cases with over 30,000 deaths. The recent drop in the number of new cases has allowed the government to ease restrictions on coronavirus.