Czech Republic has a new government, President appoints Babiš's third cabinet

The new government of Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis took office on Monday following the ANO movement’s victory in the October election. President Petr Pavel appointed the cabinet at a ceremony at Prague Castle.

Seventy-one-year-old Andrej Babis is returning to the post of prime minister after four years in opposition. He leads a coalition government that includes the SPD and the Motorists for Themselves party.

At the appointment ceremony, President Petr Pavel said that the Czech Republic’s membership in NATO and the European Union is important for the country’s security and economy. He also called on the new government to approach these commitments responsibly.

Babis’s government replaced an administration that supported Ukraine after the start of Russia’s invasion in 2022. The new prime minister said on Saturday that the Czech Republic would not provide guarantees for financing Ukraine and that the European Commission should seek alternative ways to support Kyiv.

European Union leaders are due to discuss this week a loan mechanism for Ukraine that would use frozen Russian assets and also involve national guarantees.

The ANO movement belongs to the Patriots for Europe group in the European Parliament, alongside Hungary’s Fidesz, Austria’s Freedom Party and France’s National Rally.

Babis said he wants to promote Czech interests at home and abroad. He criticised some European Union policies and opposes its migration measures as well as the expansion of emissions payments to household heating and vehicle fuels.

At the same time, he rejected calls from coalition partners to hold referendums on Czech membership in the European Union and NATO, and confirmed that the country will remain in both organisations.

(reuters, lud)