Czech Elections: Billionaire Andrej Babis Aims for Power Amid Political Extremes

Fri Oct 10 2025 14:18:03 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In the upcoming Czech elections, Andrej Babis, a populist billionaire, is positioned to take over the government but may need to ally with radical groups, raising concerns about EU and NATO support.

As Czechs prepare to vote, Andrej Babis stands out as a potential leader despite the challenges posed by political extremes. He has made assurances against aligning with Russia and EU exit while appealing to populist sentiments. However, his party may need to depend on fringe groups, prompting fears regarding the country’s pro-European stance amidst a backdrop of security concerns and Russian influence.

Czechs go to the polls on Friday and Saturday facing a deteriorating security situation in Europe and fears of Russian interference.

Populist billionaire Andrej Babis, 71, is tipped to head the next government, replacing the strongly pro-Western, pro-Ukraine coalition.

But he'll likely need allies on the extremes of Czech politics – and their price will not be cheap.

We'll never drag the Czech Republic to the East. I can absolutely rule that out, Babis told a crowd of mostly elderly supporters, gathered around a stage in the former steel town of Kladno, just outside Prague.

We weren't the ones who sat down with Putin - we were the ones who expelled Russian diplomats! he went on, referring to measures taken in his first term following revelations that Russia's GRU military intelligence had blown up a Czech ammunition dump in 2014.

A row of grey heads nodded as the former prime minister warmed to his theme.

And never - I repeat, never - will we consider leaving the European Union. Look at what happened to Great Britain! And they're a nuclear power. They've got gas, oil, a fishing industry. They're friends with Trump, he added.

Andrej Babis himself is also friends with US President Donald Trump.

Many supporters were wearing Babis's red baseball cap emblazoned with the words Strong Czechia – heavily inspired by Trump's Maga movement.

The problem for Babis – and it could soon become a problem for Nato and the EU – is that his ANO party is unlikely to win an overall majority.

Instead, he will likely need to form alliances with smaller parties on the fringes of Czech politics.

Opinion polls suggest his choice of potential allies will be limited to the ultra-nationalist SPD and several other fringe movements.

During his only head-to-head debate with Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Babis ruled out forming a coalition with the Communists, emphasizing his party's commitment to the EU and Nato.

Security analysts have raised alarms about Babis's potential partners wanting to curtail support for Ukraine and advocate for closer ties with Russia, thus threatening the stability of pro-EU and pro-Nato policies in the country.

Young Czechs, such as political science student Ondrej Kapralek, express concern over the political direction, fearing a shift toward illiberalism akin to developments seen in Hungary and Slovakia.

The upcoming elections will not only shape the future of Czech politics but also reverberate throughout Europe, especially concerning its stance against Russia and commitment to democratic values.