PRAGUE, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Andrej Babis, chairman of the ANO movement that won the Czech elections, said on Monday that Czech President Milos Zeman will assign him to head talks to form a new government next week.

Babis made the statement at a press conference after a meeting with Zeman on Monday.

Once the chamber has its leadership, Babis expects Zeman to assign him to form a government.

Babis indicated at the press conference that he would prefer a coalition of his ANO with the election runner-up Civic Democrats (ODS).

With ODS, the coalition would have 103 mandates in the 200-seat lower house. Babis said that according to his experience in the previous government, the fewer the partners, the better.

The ministers need not necessarily be members of ANO, with him saying he could imagine a cabinet comprised of experts.

ODS chairman Petr Fiala said his party would not ally with Babis due to his suspected subsidy fraud and incompatible programs. Enditem

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