The former Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, billionaire Andriy Babis, known for his Eurosceptic views, has significantly strengthened his position in the political arena after the recent elections. The ANO party, which he leads, won the largest number of seats in the Czech Senate based on the results of elections for one third of its composition.
As writes Bloomberg, this was a significant success for Babis’ political power, as ANO won 8 of the 27 seats, making it the largest faction in the Senate. At the same time, the party lacks the mandates for full control, as Prime Minister Peter Fiala’s coalition maintains a majority.
In addition to its success in the parliamentary elections, ANO won the regional elections, where it won power in 10 of the country’s 13 administrative regions. These achievements boost Babis’s chances of winning the general election in 2025, which could once again open the way for him to become prime minister. Polls already show that ANO enjoys considerable popularity among voters.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Babis expressed confidence that the internal contradictions in the government coalition will help him return to power. He sharply criticized the current government, stressing that their inability to effectively manage the country will soon become evident.
If Babis becomes prime minister again, it could have significant consequences for Ukraine, because his Eurosceptic stance, especially regarding support for Kyiv, could undermine the EU’s unity on helping Ukraine in its war against Russia. Babis’ return to power could also strengthen illiberal political forces in Central Europe, in particular, he could join an alliance with Viktor Orbán in Hungary and Robert Fico in Slovakia, making it even more difficult to consolidate support for Ukraine.
It should be noted that Babis has a difficult relationship with the current president of the Czech Republic, former NATO general Petr Pavel, who defeated him in the elections last year. During the election campaign, Pavel accused Babish of pro-Russian sentiments, to which he replied that Pavel was a supporter of war.
Regarding Ukraine, Babish said that even the EU and NATO do not have a consensus on actions in Ukraine, and the main goal of Europe, in his opinion, should be to establish peace. He also noted that the outcome of the elections in the USA can significantly affect the further development of the war in Ukraine, and the victory of Donald Trump can accelerate the end of this conflict.
Babiš has previously worked with other Eurosceptic leaders such as Orbán and Marine Le Pen in France to form a major political group in the European Parliament called Patriots for Europe. This indicates his plans to spread his influence at the European level.
Despite his popularity among voters, Babis has remained a controversial figure due to a series of corruption scandals, including fraud with European subsidies in favor of his Agrofert holding company. He also got into a scandal after he was photographed with female collaborators from Crimea, which caused condemnation from pro-Ukrainian forces.
