Former Czech PM Scraps His Election Campaign After Attack

(MENAFN) Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis announced Monday evening that he will cancel his election campaign activities scheduled for Tuesday following an assault at a rally.

"Tomorrow, I'll be waiting for further evaluation of the test results, but the doctors have recommended rest, so unfortunately, I'll have to cancel at least tomorrow's program in the Olomouc Region," Babis wrote on the social media platform X.

The 2017-2021 Czech prime minister was hit on the head with a metallic forearm crutch by a man during a campaign event in the eastern town of Dobra on Monday afternoon.

After the attack, Babis—leader of the opposition ANO party—was taken to a hospital for examination, underwent a head CT scan, and was released, local media reported.

Czech police stated on X that officers quickly detained the suspect at the scene, and the case is under investigation. A woman also received treatment for injuries sustained during the incident.

Authorities have initially categorized the case as a "criminal offense of disorderly conduct."

ANO’s first deputy chairman Karel Havlicek attributed the attack to a "hate campaign" allegedly fueled by political opponents, writing about the incident on X.

Interior Minister Vit Rakusan condemned the violence, saying, "I unequivocally condemn today's attack on Andrej Babis. Let us seek a better future for our country in clashes of arguments and ideas, not in physical violence."

Prime Minister Petr Fiala also spoke out against the assault, emphasizing that "violence has no place in politics under any circumstances."

The Czech Republic is preparing for parliamentary elections to the Chamber of Deputies, scheduled for Oct. 3-4.

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