Four years ago, the Czech Republic voted out its populist, wealthy, scandal-singed prime minister known as the “Czech Trump.”
Now, echoing President Trump’s own comeback, Andrej Babis, prime minister from 2017 to 2021, is poised to return to that office, potentially reviving a Euroskeptic government that experts say could trim military aid to Ukraine. His party, Ano, is expected to prevail in two days of parliamentary elections that begin Friday.
Like Mr. Trump, the 71-year-old Mr. Babis is more interested in taking a transactional approach with the European Union than in forging sweeping foreign policies. And like Mr. Trump, he is expected to try to foist support for Ukraine onto European partners rather than share the load. Mr. Babis also is capitalizing on a wobbly economy to appeal to voters, much as Mr. Trump did.
No major Czech party is expected to win outright majorities in the 200-seat lower house of Parliament. Mr. Babis’s ability to form a government may hinge on his willingness to bring political extremes into his coalition.
At least two of the parties to which Mr. Babis would turn hold Euro- and NATO-skeptic or pro-Russian views, said Daniel Hegedüs, director for Central Europe at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin. He said it would be “a nightmare scenario for international, European partners” should Mr. Babis invite those parties to join the government.
Their influence could turn the Czech Republic “into a sort of naysayer” on support for Ukraine and other issues facing the European Union, including issuing sanctions against Russia, Mr. Hegedüs said.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The post The ‘Czech Trump,’ a Populist Tycoon, Is Poised to Return as Prime Minister appeared first on New York Times.
