""If the government is dependent on the position or on the support of the SPD, it's going to be very complicated," Jan Machacek, a foreign policy adviser to Czech President Petr Pavel, told RFE/RL as results came in. Machacek added that this would create "a very dangerous situation for foreign policy, because the SPD is extremist, sharply anti-Ukraine [and] EU -- a pro-Russian party.""
"With some 95 percent of the vote counted, results showed Babis, a billionaire who leads the populist ANO party, as the clear winner. But he does not have a majority of seats, meaning potentially complex efforts to find coalition partners."
"Babis has employed strong Euroskeptic rhetoric and also suggested he would end a Czech initiative to purchase munitions for Ukraine. But the 71-year-old has ruled out withdrawing from the EU or NATO."
Andrej Babis, leader of the populist ANO party, won the largest share of votes in parliamentary elections but did not secure a majority of seats, requiring coalition talks. Potential partners include the far-right SPD, which advocates withdrawal from the European Union and NATO and opposes support for Ukraine. SPD's positions raise concerns about Czech foreign policy and pro-Russian leanings. Babis has used Euroskeptic rhetoric and proposed ending a Czech munitions purchase for Ukraine while saying he will not withdraw from the EU or NATO. Several parties have ruled out forming a government with him, complicating formation of a stable coalition.
Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]