About: Andrej Babis Archives

The European Union should steer funds to individual member countries to help them guard their own borders against illegal migration, rather than emphasise funding for Frontex, the common EU border force, the Czech and Slovak premiers said on Monday (17 September).

MEPs have urged the European Commission to investigate Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš for possible conflicts of interest involving EU funds, after being persuaded by the Czech branch of Transparency International and the Czech Pirate Party.

Hungary’s illiberal Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Italy's hardline Interior Minister Matteo Salvini launched Tuesday (28 August) an anti-migration manifesto aiming at next year's European parliament elections, targeting a common enemy.

Czechs and Slovaks on Tuesday (20 August) marked 50 years since Soviet tanks crushed the "Prague Spring" democratic reform drive, as protesters used the anniversary to rail against the current Czech government's ties to the Communist Party.

Czech president Miloš Zeman said on Sunday (24 June) he may appoint a new two-party cabinet on Tuesday or Wednesday following eight months of political instability after last October's election.

Czech billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babiš yesterday (18 June) rejected the European Commission's multi-year draft budget as "completely unacceptable", lashing out at spending priorities imposed by Brussels.

The Czech Communist party will withhold support from the next government if the Social Democrats stick to their nominee for the post of foreign minister, Communist leader Vojtech Filip said on Sunday (17 June).

The Czech ruling ANO party could be days away from agreeing the text of a coalition agreement with the center-left Social Democrats, an ANO official was quoted as saying today (2 May), raising hopes for an end to months of political instability.

The Czech president has advised Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to try to negotiate a new government with two fringe parties after coalition talks with the Social Democrats collapsed, Babiš said yesterday (11 April).

Thousands of Czechs rallied on Monday (9 April) to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, battling police charges and without parliamentary backing for his government.

A Czech court yesterday (27 February) released prominent Syrian Kurdish leader Saleh Muslim, wanted by Turkey on terror charges, prompting outrage in Ankara which said the move showed "support for terrorism".

The Czech centre-left Social Democrats opened talks on forming a government with last year's election winner ANO yesterday (21 February), aiming to break a deadlock that has prevented the formation of a majority coalition.

The Czech Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) picked former parliament speaker Jan Hamáček as their chairman yesterday (18 February), bringing closer a possible breakthrough in forming a viable government.

The Czech Republic was looking east on Sunday after the Kremlin and Beijing were among the first to congratulate populist President Miloš Zeman on his re-election in a cliffhanger vote.

Czechs choose their new president next week (26-27 January) and the increasingly heated election campaign, pitting the incumbent pro-Russian Miloš Zeman against pro-European academic Jiří Drahoš, has focused on the issue of migration.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's minority government lost a confidence vote yesterday (16 January), forcing him to try to cut a deal with opposition parties to stay in office while he also battles allegations of subsidy fraud.

Czech lawmakers resume debate today (16 January) ahead of a confidence vote on Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's minority government that he is likely to lose with the billionaire businessman fighting allegations of EU subsidy fraud.

Pro-Russian Czech incumbent Miloš Zeman clinched pole position in round one of a weekend presidential election, paving his way to a challenging run-off against pro-European Jiří Drahoš, full results showed Saturday (13 January).

Czechs will vote in a divisive presidential election starting Friday (12 January), seen as a test for the country increasingly split between the anti-Muslim, pro-Russian views of incumbent Miloš Zeman and more liberal currents.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, battling allegations his business empire illegally tapped European Union subsidies a decade ago, looks certain to lose a parliamentary confidence vote on Wednesday.

The Czech Republic insists that it will not accept any refugees under the EU relocation system, despite a legal case brought by the European Commission.

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, a billionaire businessman who ran on an anti-establishment ticket, took office with his cabinet on Wednesday (13 December) but it was unclear whether his tenure will survive a confidence vote next month.

Czech President Miloš Zeman instructed Andrej Babiš to form a new government. With 99% of the votes counted, his party ANO, collected 29.76% of popular support.

Experts have warned that Visegrad countries, haunted by a wave of Euroscepticism and populism, can no longer aspire to be role models and “export” their experience with democratic transition to the Eastern Partnership countries. EURACTIV Slovakia reports.