Andrej Babiš was sworn in as the Czech Republic’s new prime minister on Tuesday following October’s parliamentary elections.
The billionaire, who previously served as prime minister from 2017 to 2021, promised Czechs that he would fight for their interests “at home and anywhere in the world” and would work to make the Czech Republic “the best place for life on earth.”
President Petr Pavel had asked Babiš to form a government after his right-wing ANO (YES) party won big in the October ballot.
Babiš agreed to form a majority coalition government with two smaller political groups, the anti-migrant Freedom and Direct Democracy party and the right-wing Motorists for Themselves.
The parties have agreed to form a 16-member Cabinet, with ANO holding eight posts, including the prime minister’s office.
The Motorists would have four and the Freedom party three. Pavel will appoint the entire Cabinet on Monday, his office said.
The new partnership accounts for 108 seats in the 200-seat lower house of parliament, relegating the four centre-right parties of the pro-Western government led by former Prime Minister Petr Fiala to the opposition.
The new coalition could follow Hungary and Slovakia and shift the Czech Republic away from providing support to Ukraine in Russia’s nearly four-year war.
The Czech government under Fiala provided Ukraine with significant humanitarian and military support, as well as hosting around half a million Ukrainian refugees.
Coalition members are also critical of the EU, rejecting policies particularly on environment and migration.
“An old ally has returned,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is widely considered Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest partner among EU leaders, said of Babiš.
After he lost the 2021 parliamentary election, Babiš was beaten by Pavel, a retired army general, in a vote for the largely ceremonial post of president.
Babiš, 71, was appointed prime minister after he met a condition set by Pavel and publicly announced that he would divest his major businesses to avoid conflict of interest arising from his private dealings and his political role.
Babiš owns around 200 companies under the Agrofert conglomerate. He said an independent trustee will oversee Agrofert in a trust fund, while it will remain under the control of an independent protector until he dies. His descendants will inherit it.
Babiš also owns a network of clinics and labs, while a close ally from ANO is a candidate for the post of health minister.
Additional sources • AP
