Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has publicly criticized populist candidate Andrej Babiš, the leader of the ANO party, accusing him of facilitating Russian President Vladimir Putin’s agenda. Fiala’s remarks come as the country gears up for parliamentary elections, which could significantly alter its political landscape.
Concerns over military support for Ukraine
The current ruling coalition, led by Fiala and comprising four parties, has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine during its ongoing conflict with Russia. However, this commitment may be jeopardized if Babiš, who currently leads in electoral polls, comes to power. In an interview with the Financial Times, Fiala expressed grave concern over Babiš’s stance:
“Babiš is against this ammunition initiative, against spending on defence, he talks about peace without any conditions,”
he stated.
Fiala emphasized the potential risks to the Czech-led ammunition initiative, a program aimed at pooling donations from allied nations to finance ammunition purchases for Ukraine. He indicated that a shift in government could threaten this crucial support.
Babiš’s stance and polling trends
Recent surveys conducted by the STEM research institute reveal Babiš’s popularity, with 33 percent of respondents favoring him, while Fiala’s SPOLU coalition lags behind at approximately 17 percent. Babiš has mirrored sentiments expressed by leaders such as Viktor Orbán of Hungary and Robert Fico of Slovakia, advocating for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict rather than increasing military support.
Despite Babiš’s criticism of the ammunition initiative, he has expressed optimism that U.S. President Donald Trump might bring an end to the war before any potential shift in government could occur. This outlook, however, has drawn skepticism from Kyiv, which doubts the Kremlin’s genuine interest in pursuing a diplomatic solution to the ongoing hostilities.