Prague [Czech Republic], October 6: The right-wing ANO party of former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis won parliamentary elections on October 4, casting a dark shadow over aid to Ukraine.
With 99% of votes counted, former Prime Minister and billionaire Andrej Babis 's ANO party is leading with 34.7% while Prime Minister Petr Fiala's center-right Spolu (Together) coalition is second with 23.2%, Reuters reported on October 5, citing official data from the Czech Statistical Office.
With such results, Mr. Babis is expected to replace Mr. Fiala to form a new government. Mr. Fiala congratulated Mr. Babis and admitted defeat.
ANO is forecast to win around 80 of the 200 seats in the lower house and will need the support of other parties. Mr Babis said he would negotiate with right-wing parties such as the Motorists and the Social Democrats, which oppose EU and NATO policies.
President Petr Pavel will hold talks with party leaders on October 5 and will appoint the next prime minister.
During the election campaign, ANO pledged to promote rapid growth, increase wages and pensions, and reduce taxes. Mr. Babis served as prime minister from 2017 to 2021. He is the owner of the Agrofert Group, one of the largest businesses in the Czech Republic.
Andrej Babis has rejected accusations that his victory would make the Czech Republic a less reliable member of the EU and NATO. He is an ally of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and ANO has joined forces with other far-right parties in the European Parliament to challenge what is considered mainstream European policy.
Mr Babis has said he will end a Czech initiative that has helped buy artillery shells around the world with Western funding for Ukraine . He wants NATO and the EU to take over this role.
In addition, ANO has abstained in several votes in the European Parliament in support of Ukraine and Kyiv's EU accession bid, which Mr. Babis opposed and described as a disaster.
Speaking to Ukraine's Suspilne radio station after his victory, Mr. Babis stressed that Ukraine was not ready to join the EU. He declared that the Czech Republic supported Ukraine but should limit aid to Kyiv and instead prioritize the domestic population.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper