Czech billionaire and former prime minister Andrej Babis vowed loyalty to Europe as he met with the Czech president to start talks on a new government yesterday, a day after his movement topped a national vote.
Final results showed that Babis’ ANO (Yes) party won 34.5 percent of the vote on Friday and Saturday, earning 80 seats in the 200-member parliament of the EU and NATO member of 10.9 million people.
Babis said he would seek backing for his government from the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) movement, which earned 7.8 percent for 15 seats, and right-wing newcomers, the Motorists, with 6.8 percent and 13 seats.
Photo: AP
A self-proclaimed [US President Donald] “Trumpist,” Babis won over voters with pledges of welfare and halting military aid to Ukraine, which made pundits worry the country might shift toward EU skeptics Slovakia and Hungary if he takes over.
“We have discussed the election result and our image in NATO and the EU. I keep seeing negative information ... and I think it’s not fair,” Babis told reporters after meeting with Czech President Petr Pavel.
The 71-year-old, Slovak-born Babis stressed he was pro-European and wanted “Europe to work well.”
However, a day before the vote, Babis said the Czech Republic should help Ukraine through the EU, not directly as up to now.
“Every year, we send 2.5 billion euros in the budget to Brussels, and of course Brussels is helping Ukraine, and the new proposal for the new budget includes a large sum for Ukraine. So, I think we are there,” Babis said.
In Taipei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said the Czech Republic’s smooth and peaceful elections show the maturity of its democracy, congratulating the nation.
As democratic allies, Taiwan and the Czech Republic have deepened their cooperation in the trade, technology, education, culture and public health sectors over the past few years as their bilaterial ties have flourished, the ministry said.
The Czech parliament has long demonstrated bipartisan support of Taiwan, passing several pro-Taiwan resolutions that show its friendliness toward Taiwan, it said.
Taiwan looks forward to deepening its cooperation with the Czech parliament across various fields, and jointly promoting peace, stability and prosperity in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region, it said.
Additional reporting by Huang Chin-hsuan
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