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Czech Republic assigns PM who campaigned against Ukraine aid
(MENAFN) According to reports, right-wing Euroskeptic Andrej Babis has returned to power as the Czech Republic’s prime minister after running on a platform centered on reducing support for Ukraine and prioritizing domestic matters. He was officially sworn in following the victory of his ANO party in the October parliamentary election.
Although ANO secured the largest share of votes, it did not obtain a majority and therefore formed a governing coalition with the SPD and AUTO parties. Babis, a familiar figure in Czech politics, previously led the government from 2017 to 2021 and earlier served as both finance minister and deputy prime minister.
The 71-year-old expressed gratitude to his voters in a brief message on X.
“I promise that I will be a Prime Minister who defends the interests of all our citizens at home and abroad, and… who will work to make the Czech Republic the best place to live on the entire planet,” he wrote.
Speaking at Prague Castle after the formal appointment, Babis signaled that he intends to challenge Brussels on a wide range of issues, including Ukraine assistance, energy policy, VAT, and tariffs. He also reiterated his opposition to the EU’s plans on migration and carbon-reduction measures.
Babis has repeatedly argued that the state should focus on internal priorities rather than continuing the large-scale military support for Kiev initiated under former Prime Minister Petr Fiala, whose administration launched an extensive international procurement program for Ukrainian ammunition.
“We will not give Ukraine a single crown from our budget for weapons,” Babis said earlier this year after his party’s election win.
Despite rejecting direct state funding for Kiev, he has indicated that Czech defense firms would still be permitted to export military equipment to Ukraine.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a frequent critic of Western military aid to Ukraine, welcomed Babis’ return to office.
“A committed Czech patriot is back at the helm,” he wrote on X on Tuesday.
Although ANO secured the largest share of votes, it did not obtain a majority and therefore formed a governing coalition with the SPD and AUTO parties. Babis, a familiar figure in Czech politics, previously led the government from 2017 to 2021 and earlier served as both finance minister and deputy prime minister.
The 71-year-old expressed gratitude to his voters in a brief message on X.
“I promise that I will be a Prime Minister who defends the interests of all our citizens at home and abroad, and… who will work to make the Czech Republic the best place to live on the entire planet,” he wrote.
Speaking at Prague Castle after the formal appointment, Babis signaled that he intends to challenge Brussels on a wide range of issues, including Ukraine assistance, energy policy, VAT, and tariffs. He also reiterated his opposition to the EU’s plans on migration and carbon-reduction measures.
Babis has repeatedly argued that the state should focus on internal priorities rather than continuing the large-scale military support for Kiev initiated under former Prime Minister Petr Fiala, whose administration launched an extensive international procurement program for Ukrainian ammunition.
“We will not give Ukraine a single crown from our budget for weapons,” Babis said earlier this year after his party’s election win.
Despite rejecting direct state funding for Kiev, he has indicated that Czech defense firms would still be permitted to export military equipment to Ukraine.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a frequent critic of Western military aid to Ukraine, welcomed Babis’ return to office.
“A committed Czech patriot is back at the helm,” he wrote on X on Tuesday.
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