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Czechs begin voting in election that could return populist to power Czechs begin voting in election that could return populist to power
(about 16 hours later)
Billionaire Andrej Babiš hands out doughnuts on first day of voting as polls predict his ANO party will winBillionaire Andrej Babiš hands out doughnuts on first day of voting as polls predict his ANO party will win
Czechs have begun voting in an election likely to oust their centre-right government, with polls favouring the populist billionaire Andrej Babiš to return to power on pledges to raise wages and improve growth while reducing aid for Ukraine.Czechs have begun voting in an election likely to oust their centre-right government, with polls favouring the populist billionaire Andrej Babiš to return to power on pledges to raise wages and improve growth while reducing aid for Ukraine.
The change would boost Europe’s populist anti-immigration camp and could complicate consensus on climate policies in a country where no sitting government has won a second term since 1996.The change would boost Europe’s populist anti-immigration camp and could complicate consensus on climate policies in a country where no sitting government has won a second term since 1996.
Czechs endured inflation surges after the Covid crisis and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and have seen a slow recovery from one of Europe’s worst drops in real incomes.Czechs endured inflation surges after the Covid crisis and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and have seen a slow recovery from one of Europe’s worst drops in real incomes.
That has hurt the popularity of the prime minister Petr Fiala’s Spolu coalition and its liberal allies, who focused on lowering the budget deficit.That has hurt the popularity of the prime minister Petr Fiala’s Spolu coalition and its liberal allies, who focused on lowering the budget deficit.
Candidates made last-ditch appeals to voters on Friday morning, with Babiš handing out doughnuts in the industrial city of Ostrava.Candidates made last-ditch appeals to voters on Friday morning, with Babiš handing out doughnuts in the industrial city of Ostrava.
Casting his ballot, he labelled the vote as a showdown between him and Fiala. “Nothing is certain, we haven’t won yet,” the 71-year-old said.
Babiš is an ally of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán in the Patriots for Europe group in the European parliament and has taken an ambivalent line on aid to Ukraine – a departure from Fiala’s government, which quickly took a firm stance to support Kyiv after Russia’s invasion in 2022.Babiš is an ally of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán in the Patriots for Europe group in the European parliament and has taken an ambivalent line on aid to Ukraine – a departure from Fiala’s government, which quickly took a firm stance to support Kyiv after Russia’s invasion in 2022.
While donating less than others financially, the Czechs were among the first to provide tanks and fighting vehicles and they set up the so-called “Czech initiative” pulling together traders and defence officials to find millions of artillery rounds around the world for Kyiv with financing from western countries.While donating less than others financially, the Czechs were among the first to provide tanks and fighting vehicles and they set up the so-called “Czech initiative” pulling together traders and defence officials to find millions of artillery rounds around the world for Kyiv with financing from western countries.
Babiš has pledged to end the ammunition project, saying it is overpriced. He wants Nato and the EU to handle Ukraine.Babiš has pledged to end the ammunition project, saying it is overpriced. He wants Nato and the EU to handle Ukraine.
“We don’t have the money here for our people. Our programme is for a better life for Czech citizens … We are not in Ukraine,” Babiš, 71, said in a debate on Wednesday on CNN Prima News. “We don’t have the money here for our people. Our programme is for a better life for Czech citizens … We are not in Ukraine,” Babiš said in a debate on Wednesday on CNN Prima News.
Casting her ballot at a Prague school, librarian Magdalena Servitova, 50, told AFP she would “hate a U-turn that would take us somewhere else”.
“I would like our policy vis-a-vis Ukraine to continue as well – we should not turn our backs on Ukraine,” she said.
Fiala, a 61-year-old former political science professor, said the vote was “deciding the direction of the Czech Republic”.
It will decide “whether we head into the past or into the future, whether our path goes east or west,” he said after casting his ballot in the second Czech city of Brno.
But Charles University analyst Josef Mlejnek told AFP he did not expect “a fundamental change” if Babiš wins.
“Babiš is a pragmatic businessman and the only thing he cares about is being prime minister,” he added.
Polls point to Babiš’s ANO party winning more than 30% of the vote, about 10 points more than Fiala’s Spolu coalition. But, even with a small ally called Motorists, it will probably not get a majority in the 200-seat lower house of parliament.Polls point to Babiš’s ANO party winning more than 30% of the vote, about 10 points more than Fiala’s Spolu coalition. But, even with a small ally called Motorists, it will probably not get a majority in the 200-seat lower house of parliament.
ANO’s sour relations with Spolu and its allies mean the party may need support from anti-EU and anti-Nato fringe parties – the far-right SPD and the far-left Stacilo! – for its preferred one-party cabinet.ANO’s sour relations with Spolu and its allies mean the party may need support from anti-EU and anti-Nato fringe parties – the far-right SPD and the far-left Stacilo! – for its preferred one-party cabinet.
Babiš has rejected any steps towards exit from the EU or Nato, including calls for referendums, countering accusations by the current government that he would drag the country off its democratic, pro-western course.Babiš has rejected any steps towards exit from the EU or Nato, including calls for referendums, countering accusations by the current government that he would drag the country off its democratic, pro-western course.
At a Babiš rally in Kralupy near Prague this week, Martin Klihavec, an entrepreneur voting ANO, said: “This fearmongering will scare many voters, but that is a pity as it is not based on the truth. Under Babiš’s previous government, I was better off.”At a Babiš rally in Kralupy near Prague this week, Martin Klihavec, an entrepreneur voting ANO, said: “This fearmongering will scare many voters, but that is a pity as it is not based on the truth. Under Babiš’s previous government, I was better off.”
Babiš must overcome other hurdles to become prime minister. As the owner of a chemicals and food empire, he needs to find a way to comply with conflict-of-interest laws. He also faces a trial on fraud charges related to drawing an EU subsidy more than 15 years ago, charges he denies.Babiš must overcome other hurdles to become prime minister. As the owner of a chemicals and food empire, he needs to find a way to comply with conflict-of-interest laws. He also faces a trial on fraud charges related to drawing an EU subsidy more than 15 years ago, charges he denies.
Spolu and its allies could retain a majority if some small parties fail to meet the 5% threshold needed to get into parliament, a scenario that helped them in the last election but looks unlikely to be repeated, according to pollsters.Spolu and its allies could retain a majority if some small parties fail to meet the 5% threshold needed to get into parliament, a scenario that helped them in the last election but looks unlikely to be repeated, according to pollsters.
Polls will be open until 10pm (8pm GMT) on Friday and from 8am to 2pm on Saturday, with results expected that afternoon.Polls will be open until 10pm (8pm GMT) on Friday and from 8am to 2pm on Saturday, with results expected that afternoon.
With Reuters and Agence France-Presse