Displaying items by tag: Andrej Babis

Billionaire and former prime minister Andrej Babis is poised for a political comeback as his ANO party leads polls ahead of the October 3-4 elections. Having shifted from a liberal to a national-conservative position, Babis is promising voters financial relief and protection from external pressures such as immigration and climate policies. Yet his return to power would be fraught with complications. ANO is expected to fall short of a majority, forcing him to seek support from far-right or far-left allies who advocate leaving the EU and NATO – a stance at odds with his own pledge to remain. He also faces personal challenges, including a renewed fraud trial and a significant conflict of interest over his vast business empire, Agrofert, which receives significant EU subsidies. His alliances with figures like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán underscore his anti-Brussels stance, but navigating extremist demands while maintaining pro-Western ties may prove his toughest balancing act yet.