Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš was hospitalized for a brief period following an assault during his campaign activities on Monday. Babiš, who is currently the frontrunner in the polls ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in October, was struck on the head and back with a crutch while attending a rally in Dobrá, located in eastern Czechia. After the incident, he was taken for X-rays and subsequently released from the hospital.
“Thank you all for your support, I hope I’ll be fine. Tomorrow I’ll still be waiting for further evaluation of the test results, but the doctors have recommended rest, so unfortunately I’ll have to cancel at least tomorrow’s program in the Olomouc region. I sincerely apologize to everyone who wanted to meet me,”
Babiš, the leader of the right-wing populist ANO party, shared this update in a post on X. The police have apprehended a suspect and categorized the incident as “disorderly conduct.”
Political Reaction to the Assault
This shocking incident has drawn widespread condemnation, including remarks from Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who stated, “violence doesn’t belong in politics.” He urged for a more civil discourse, emphasizing the importance of dialogue over aggression. “I truly call on everyone: let’s listen to one another, let’s talk together, let’s look for the right solution. But let’s put violence and aggression aside. A society that acts this way is a dangerous one,” he added.
The attack has also been addressed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who attributed the violence to the longstanding political demonization of Babiš by his opponents. He noted, “After Slovakia, violence has seeped into Czech politics as well. No wonder. His political adversaries have demonised @AndrejBabis for years. This is the result. But they will not stop him. He will go on and win the elections! Get well soon, my friend!”
Context and Implications
Alena Schillerová, vice chair of the ANO party, connected the attack to the current government, asserting that the atmosphere of hatred propagated by government parties through social media and billboards has led to this violent incident. “The hatred spread by government parties on billboards and social networks has today culminated in an attack on Andrej Babiš. It is a direct consequence of their campaign based on fear and division,” she remarked in her statement on X.
This incident recalls last year’s attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was injured in a shooting after a government meeting. As Babiš, who served as prime minister from 2017 to 2021, continues to lead in polls with 31 percent, the ruling coalition, Spolu (Together), trails with 21 percent. An ANO spokesperson did not provide immediate comments following the incident.