Populist Billionaire Andrej Babis Returns as Czech Prime Minister Amid EU Tensions

Czech President Petr Pavel has appointed Andrej Babis as the new prime minister after his party's electoral victory. Babis plans to oppose EU climate policies and reduce military aid to Ukraine. His cabinet will include far-right parties, sparking concerns about the Czech Republic's future EU and NATO relations.

Czech President Petr Pavel has appointed billionaire and leader of the populist ANO party, Andrej Babis, as the prime minister. This decision marks a critical moment following ANO's success in the October parliamentary election.

Babis, who previously served in opposition for four years, will replace a strongly pro-Ukrainian centre-right administration. His government is set to include the far-right SPD party, which advocates anti-EU and pro-Russian stances, raising questions about the Czech Republic's future relations with the EU and NATO.

Babis has voiced intentions to shift focus within the EU, emphasizing issues such as energy and tariffs over Ukraine aid. Amidst criticisms and ongoing legal battles, Babis remains determined to pursue a nationalist agenda while defending Czech interests on both domestic and international fronts.

(With inputs from agencies.)