Populist Babiš government sworn in in Czech Republic
15 December 15:09
On Monday, December 15, a new government headed by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš began work in the Czech Republic. The new cabinet was formed as a result of the victory of forces allied to Babiš in the October elections and, according to observers, may weaken support for Ukraine and, conversely, strengthen the position of right-wing populists in the European Union, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing DW.
billionaire Babish, 71, returned to power after four years in opposition. His coalition includes the right-wing populist ANO movement, the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy party, and the Motorists for Ourselves party, whose main program item is to oppose EU climate protection policies.
During the government inauguration ceremony, Czech President Peter Pavel called on the new cabinet to govern the country responsibly and reminded them of the benefits of membership in NATO and the European Union.
The Czech President’s position
“Our country would certainly be less secure if it were not a member of NATO, just as it would be less economically prosperous and stable if it were not a member of the European Union,” Pavel emphasized.
He called on the Babiš government to be a responsible and constructive participant in these associations, rather than rejecting them.
The change of the cabinet means that the Czech Republic is moving away from the course of the previous government, which actively supported Ukraine and the European Union, Reuters notes. The new cabinet is expected to shift the country’s course away from the liberal mainstream and toward right-wing forces on the European periphery.
The ANO movement, headed by Babiš, is a member of the Patriots for Europe faction in the European Parliament, along with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Union party, the Austrian Freedom Party and the French National Rally.
Further aid to Ukraine in question
On Saturday, Andrej Babiš said that the Czech Republic does not intend to provide financial guarantees for Ukraine and that the European Commission should look for alternative ways to support Kyiv, which has been repelling Russian aggression since 2022. This week, EU leaders will discuss a complex scheme of lending to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets and national guarantees.
Babiš also emphasized that he intends to defend the interests of the Czech Republic domestically and internationally. He has repeatedly criticized EU institutions and stated that he prefers to interact with national leaders within the European Council. The politician promised to reject the EU’s migration policy and plans to expand the carbon tax system to cover home heating and automobile fuel.
At the same time, Babiš rejected calls from his far-right coalition partners to hold referendums on Czech membership in the EU and NATO, vowing to keep the country in both unions. Even before taking office, he announced his intention to cut military aid to Ukraine from the state budget and suggested that the Czech initiative to purchase large-caliber ammunition for Ukraine worldwide should be terminated, calling the scheme insufficiently transparent.
