Babiš Upstages the "Motorist" Minister: While He's on Holiday, Others Tackle the Drought

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, together with Agriculture Minister Šebestián (formally nominated by SPD but effectively representing ANO) and former Environment Minister Richard Brabec, unveiled a National Coalition Against Drought backed by a four-billion-crown budget for water-management measures. The event took place at the dried-up Slapy reservoir — while the current Environment Minister, Igor Červený of the Motoristé (Motorists) party, was on holiday and did not show up for the presentation.

A heatwave turns into a political headache

The Motoristé party had previously declared that the "climate crisis is over" and treats summer heatwaves as nothing out of the ordinary. After taking charge of the Environment Ministry, the party dismantled the departments handling climate policy and let go of the experts working there. Meanwhile, voters whose gardens, streams and ponds have dried up amid the heat and drought have been flooding the prime minister with complaints — and, as observers note, nothing worries Babiš more than an unhappy voter.

The ex-minister is back in the game

To seize the initiative, Babiš once again turned to former Environment Minister Richard Brabec, who had already earned praise from the prime minister in a recent Sunday address — on that occasion Babiš devoted nearly half his airtime to ANO's environmental credentials and to Brabec's achievements in the previous government.

The minister risks losing authority

When the sitting minister, Igor Červený, returns from holiday on Monday, he may find that part of his portfolio has already been taken over. Some of his office's responsibilities and agenda have already been claimed by government commissioner Filip Turek, who is currently, formally, "in reserve."

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz