Former Prime Minister and billionaire businessman Andrej Babiš is a polarizing figure in Czech politics as his opposition party ANO leads voter surveys with 31% support rates before the Czech Republic’s parliamentary elections.
Much of the criticism of Babiš focused on his former company, Agrofert. In 2017, he was accused of tax evasion and was prompted to resign. However, the then-President Miloš Zeman refused to remove him from office, sparking nationwide demonstrations.
Then in 2018, Babiš was accused of illegally obtaining approximately €2 million in EU subsidies intended for small business owners by concealing his ownership of a farm, Stork’s Nest, in the town of Olbramovice. His son, Andrej Babiš Jr., later alleged that he had been held hostage during the investigation, a claim that Babiš denied.
The Prague Municipal Court has since acquitted the fraud charges. This triggered mass protests, including a June 2019 demonstration in Prague that drew the largest crowds since the Velvet Revolution of 1989, according to CNN.
“He’s the Czech version of [US President] Trump,” said David Nemec, a Czech student at AAU.
Babiš studied at the University of Economics in Bratislava before joining the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. His past work for the state security service, known as the StB, has drawn criticism from opponents who accuse him of maintaining ties to the Soviet KGB. Babiš has disputed those claims.
“He likes to blame other people for what he is doing,” said a Prague café employee, who criticized Babiš for using his political influence to increase his wealth. “He says [high prices] are the fault of the government, but he’s the government.”
Others view his popularity as a reflection of broader frustration with the current government such as Nemec, who is neutral toward Babiš. A Radio Prague International article from just after the 2017 parliamentary elections discussed Babiš’s charm, which sets him apart from other Czech politicians and makes him more appealing to voters.
Journalist Petr Nováček supported this sentiment in the same article saying: “When you talk to him close up, there’s no doubt that he has charisma.”
Despite ongoing controversies, polls show ANO has the strongest opposition support, particularly among citizens over 60, according to CNN Prima News.
In the same Radio Prague article, a 62 year-old Czech woman spoke positively about the politician, stating she and those close to her would vote for Babiš and ANO.
The Czech parliamentary elections will be held Oct. 3-4.
