Czech President Demands Clear Ukraine Policy and Defense Boost from New Government

Czech President Petr Pavel on November 12, during a meeting with the election winner and ANO movement leader Andrej Babiš, urged to add to the government’s program a point with a clear stance on Russia’s war against Ukraine and to include commitments to increase defense spending and to fulfill alliance obligations within NATO.

Another demand was to address the conflict of interest. Babiš’s conflict of interest as a possible prime minister lies in the fact that he is the owner of the Agrofert holding, which receives government contracts.

Key demands of the president for the government program and the stance on Ukraine

Andrej Babiš said he would act

in accordance with the position of the Czech courts and the European Commission

He did not explain how he would respond to the president’s other calls.

I will inform the coalition partners of his view; we may add some wording in connection with this or not

Andrej Babiš previously promised to scrap the Czech initiative to supply artillery ammunition to Ukraine. Recently he softened his rhetoric and said that this could be handled at the NATO level.

Leaders of three right-wing and populist parties, who won the October elections in the Czech Republic, signed an agreement on forming a governing coalition on November 3. Unlike international and security policy, the Czech president on November 12 praised their plans in the area of healthcare and support for the country’s weaker regions.