Billionaire businessman Andrej Babis has secured victory in the recent parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic, although his populist party, ANO, did not achieve an overall majority. Preliminary results indicate that ANO received nearly 35% of the vote, translating to 80 seats in the 200-seat lower house, a gain from 72 seats in the previous election cycle.
Babis, who previously served as prime minister from 2017 to 2021, is anticipated to be invited to lead coalition talks. He celebrated the win with supporters at the ANO headquarters in Prague, stating this was a significant achievement for his political career. However, while Babis’s victory was expected, various questions remain regarding the formation of a stable government.
Following his acceptance speech, Babis initiated discussions with two smaller right-wing parties that surpassed the 5% electoral threshold: the Motorists for Themselves, which opposes the EU’s emissions targets, and the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, led by Tomio Okamura. For Babis to form a majority coalition, alignment with both parties will be critical.
Babis asserted a preference for ANO to govern independently but acknowledged the necessity of alliances. Relations with these right-wing parties, particularly the SPD, may present complexities due to previous election alliances on the far right and differing policy priorities. Notably, Babis has ruled out the possibility of a referendum on EU or NATO membership, a key issue for the SPD.
Positioning on military support for Ukraine is also expected to shift significantly under Babis’s leadership. He has proposed scrapping a successful ammunition initiative for Ukraine, citing a lack of transparency, despite government officials indicating the scheme’s efficacy stems from its confidentiality. Moreover, his communications suggest a willingness to negotiate future support with Ukrainian President Zelensky, despite concerns about the Czech Republic’s reliability as an EU and NATO partner.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62qezmr92lo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss