Czech populist billionaire Babiš sworn in as prime minister

Populist billionaire Andrej Babiš was sworn in Tuesday as the Czech Republic’s new prime minister, marking his return to power following his party’s victory in October’s parliamentary election. Political analysts expect the incoming government to significantly shift the country’s foreign policy stance, particularly regarding support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

During the swearing-in ceremony, Babiš, who previously served as prime minister from 2017 to 2021, promised citizens that he would champion their interests “at home and anywhere in the world” and pledged to transform the Czech Republic into “the best place for life on earth.”

President Petr Pavel formally appointed Babiš to form a government after his ANO (“YES”) movement secured a decisive victory in October’s election. ANO has established a coalition with two smaller political groups—the anti-immigration Freedom and Direct Democracy party and the right-wing Motorists for Themselves—giving them a comfortable majority of 108 seats in the 200-seat lower house.

The coalition has agreed to a 16-member Cabinet structure, with ANO controlling eight ministerial positions plus the prime minister’s office. The Motorists will hold four posts, while the Freedom party will manage three. President Pavel’s office confirmed he will appoint the entire Cabinet next Monday.

This new political alignment relegates the four center-right parties that formed the previous pro-Western government, led by former Prime Minister Petr Fiala, to opposition status.

Political observers note that the incoming government is expected to align more closely with Hungary and Slovakia in its approach to regional issues. Most significantly, the coalition is poised to distance the Czech Republic from its previous strong support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, which is now approaching its fourth year.

The coalition partners have also expressed significant skepticism toward various European Union policies, particularly those related to environmental regulations and migration management. This stance signals potential friction between Prague and Brussels in the coming years.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely regarded as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally among EU leaders, publicly celebrated Babiš’s return to power. “An old ally has returned,” Orbán stated on social media. “Welcome back on board Andrej!”

Babiš, 71, continues to face legal challenges, including fraud charges related to EU subsidies. Parliament will need to lift his official immunity for a court to issue a verdict in this ongoing case, adding a layer of legal complexity to his new administration.

His political career has seen significant ups and downs in recent years. After losing the 2021 parliamentary election while serving as prime minister, Babiš then suffered defeat at the hands of Pavel, a retired army general, in the subsequent presidential election.

Before appointing Babiš as prime minister, President Pavel established a key condition: the billionaire had to publicly commit to divesting himself of his major business interests to avoid potential conflicts of interest between his private holdings and governmental responsibilities.

Babiš controls approximately 200 companies under his Agrofert conglomerate, one of the largest business empires in the Czech Republic with significant interests in agriculture, food processing, chemicals, and media. He has announced that an independent trustee will manage Agrofert through a trust fund, with an independent protector overseeing the arrangement until his death, after which his descendants will inherit the business empire.

The new prime minister also owns a network of healthcare clinics and laboratories, raising additional conflict of interest concerns as a close ANO ally is the designated candidate for health minister in the incoming government.

The formation of this new government represents a significant political realignment for the Czech Republic, with potential ramifications for both domestic policy and the country’s position within the European Union and broader international relations.