Andrej Babiš becomes Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
9 December 15:00
More than two months after the parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic, right-wing populist Andrej Babiš has once again become the country’s prime minister. On Tuesday, December 9, Czech President Peter Pavel swore in the 71-year-old billionaire, who previously served as finance minister and prime minister, at a ceremony in Prague Castle, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing DW.
In a short address, Babiš assured citizens that he would fight for their interests not only in the country but also around the world.
“I will do everything to make the Czech Republic the best place to live on our planet,” he promised.
By the end of December, Babiš is expected to announce the composition of his government, which will replace the former center-right coalition. It will include representatives of the pro-Russian and anti-immigrant Freedom and Direct Democracy party, as well as the right-wing populist Motorists for Ourselves party, which opposes the EU’s climate protection policies.
Babiš fulfilled President Pavel’s request
The appointment was preceded by a struggle that lasted for many weeks between the election winner Babiš and President Pavel. The head of state demanded that the billionaire resolve the conflict of interest that arose from his role as an entrepreneur and recipient of EU subsidies, on the one hand, and a politician, on the other. In early December, Pavel announced the resolution of the dispute after Babiš refused to give up the Agrofert multidisciplinary concern he owns.
“I appreciate the clear and understandable approach of Andriy Babish, who honored our agreement and publicly announced the way he resolved his conflict of interest. In this regard, I have decided to appoint him as Prime Minister on Tuesday, December 9, at 9:00 am,” Pavel wrote.
About an hour earlier, Babish had posted a video on his page X in which he said he would fulfill the president’s condition for his appointment as prime minister, i.e., “irrevocably give up” Agrofert. The billionaire added that he would not regain control of the company even after leaving politics. According to Babish, the concern, which unites more than 250 companies, will be managed by independent persons, and after his death, his children will inherit the company.
