Czechs go to the polls on Friday and Saturday facing a deteriorating security situation in Europe and fears of Russian interference. Populist billionaire Andrej Babis, 71, is tipped to head the next government, replacing the strongly pro-Western, pro-Ukraine coalition.
But he'll likely need allies on the extremes of Czech politics – and their price will not be cheap. We'll never drag the Czech Republic to the East. I can absolutely rule that out, Babis told a crowd of mostly elderly supporters, gathered around a stage in the former steel town of Kladno, just outside Prague.
A row of grey heads nodded as the former prime minister warmed to his theme, assuring his supporters that he was committed to the EU and NATO, despite his party's need to engage with far-right factions. His party, ANO, is unlikely to win an overall majority, indicating potential coalitions with parties whose demands could strain the country's international alliances.
Many supporters donned Babis's red caps, echoing former President Trump’s MAGA movement, illustrating a growing populist sentiment in the Czech Republic. Concerns about potential shifts to a more extreme and pro-Russian political stance have emerged, with young activists like Ondrej Kapralek warning against the country's trajectory towards illiberal governance.
Babis’s potential alliances could push for referendums on EU and NATO membership and radical policy shifts, alarming analysts who fear for the country's longstanding commitments to Western alliances. As the elections approach, the risk of concerning international relations looms large, echoing worries of greater authoritarianism in neighboring Slovakia and Hungary.
But he'll likely need allies on the extremes of Czech politics – and their price will not be cheap. We'll never drag the Czech Republic to the East. I can absolutely rule that out, Babis told a crowd of mostly elderly supporters, gathered around a stage in the former steel town of Kladno, just outside Prague.
A row of grey heads nodded as the former prime minister warmed to his theme, assuring his supporters that he was committed to the EU and NATO, despite his party's need to engage with far-right factions. His party, ANO, is unlikely to win an overall majority, indicating potential coalitions with parties whose demands could strain the country's international alliances.
Many supporters donned Babis's red caps, echoing former President Trump’s MAGA movement, illustrating a growing populist sentiment in the Czech Republic. Concerns about potential shifts to a more extreme and pro-Russian political stance have emerged, with young activists like Ondrej Kapralek warning against the country's trajectory towards illiberal governance.
Babis’s potential alliances could push for referendums on EU and NATO membership and radical policy shifts, alarming analysts who fear for the country's longstanding commitments to Western alliances. As the elections approach, the risk of concerning international relations looms large, echoing worries of greater authoritarianism in neighboring Slovakia and Hungary.
