Czech parties ANO, SPD and Motorists agree on criticism of the Green Deal, disagree over support for renewables

ANO, SPD and Motorists agree in their election programmes in criticising the current form of the European Green Deal and unequivocally reject the emissions allowance system, particularly its extension to transport and households. They differ, for example, on support for renewable energy sources (RES). This is according to the programmes published on the parties’ websites.

Debates on the government programme that these parties intend to draw up are expected to continue until the end of the working week, when negotiators plan to comment on the agreements reached on the programme after all chapters have been finalised. Party representatives will discuss the environment on Thursday.

According to ANO’s programme, the Green Deal in its current form is dead, and the movement says the European Commission must be put under strong pressure to abolish it in its current form as soon as possible. SPD also rejects the Green Deal in its programme. Motorists say they want to reduce spending on projects linked to the Green Deal.

Motorists and SPD say in their programmes that they want to reject emissions allowances. ANO also opposes the EU ETS 2, an expanded emissions allowance system covering heating and road transport.

Motorists plan to end support for renewable energy sources and consider coal the only domestic energy source, while ANO promises in its programme to create conditions for the development of solar, wind and, for example, hydropower plants, and regards renewables as a very important part of a low-emissions energy mix. SPD does not explicitly oppose renewables; it says nuclear power should remain the primary source of electricity generation in the future.

ANO wants to continue the successful New Green Savings programme, while Motorists want to scrap it. Both parties, however, support the construction of smaller water reservoirs in the landscape, for example.

Motorists propose scrapping the anti-erosion regulation, a move that environmentalists say would harm the landscape and nature. At the same time, they support voluntary measures such as copses, windbreaks and field margins, and promise to invest in forests and soil as well. ANO does not address soil or biodiversity in its programme, but promises to create natural barriers against drought and erosion. SPD sets out no specific steps to protect the landscape in its programme, but pledges general support for nature conservation.

Under the agreement reached so far, ANO is to have nine seats in the cabinet, including the prime minister’s post, SPD three seats and Motorists four. ANO leader Andrej Babiš wants to announce the nominees for ministerial posts once an agreement on the programme has been reached, around mid-November. Motorists’ prospective nominees in particular have faced criticism. Their leader, Petr Macinka, is a possible candidate for the post of environment minister. His potential appointment has drawn a wave of criticism from environmentalists, scientists and students. A number of open letters and appeals have been issued, and hundreds of people demonstrated at Hradčany Square on Sunday.