Czech Premier Seeks Fringe Parties’ Backing

Czech billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis will try to muster support for his cabinet from anti-establishment parties that oppose membership in western alliances because mainstream political forces are refusing to cooperate with him.

Traditional political parties torpedoed Babis’s initial cabinet lineup this month in parliament, saying they can’t join him because he’s facing a fraud investigation tied to the misuse of European Union funds. Babis, who denies the allegations, is seeking a new way to secure backing, either for a coalition or a minority setup with the tacit approval of other parties. He’s now ruling in a caretaker role as he awaits a second government-forming mandate promised by newly re-elected President Milos Zeman.