Andrej Babis win in Czech vote would boost populists

Billion aire Andrej Babis is widely expected to return to power in a Czech election next month, in a boost to the populist, anti-immigration camp within the European Union that could weaken backing for Ukraine's defence against Russia.

- Jan Lopatka, Reuters

Having parted with liberal EU allies since his last term as prime minister in 2017-2081, Babis has labelled himself “Trumpist” and founded the Patriots for Europe in European Parliament (EP) with Hungary's fellow eurosceptic Viktor Orban and several far-right parties. His ANO party leads opinion polls comfortably and is on route to win most votes, although not a majority, in the October 3-4 election.

A win for the 7-year-old businessman would mirror the rise of populists across Europe and may embolden similar voices in other member states, adding to centrifugal tendencies in European politics. “There will be a shift in the distribution of power... and common decisions in multiple concrete policies such as defence, migration, and economy will be even harder to reach,” said Vladimir Bilcik, senior fellow at Globsec think tank and former Slovak member of the European Parliament. Babis, who has built an empire of farming, food processing and chemicals firms that make him one of the nation’s richest men, will bring Czechs closer to Orban and populist Slovak leader Robert Fico.