Andrej Babis, a Czech billionaire
Andrej Babis, a Czech billionaire compared to Donald Trump for his attacks on established political parties and the EU, looks likely to become the country’s next leader after elections. Tim Gosling reports from Prague.
Bankrolled by Andrej Babis’ agrochemicals conglomerate Agrofert, the centrist and populist ANO party is on course to take around 30 percent of the vote in elections on October 20-21. Many Czechs have abandoned the established political parties that have spent the quarter of a century or so since the fall of communism mired in corruption scandals.
Babis, the country’s second-richest man, cast his vote on Friday afternoon (above). The polls will remain open until 2 p.m. local time (1200 UTC) on Saturday.
The businessman turned politician ran on promises to clean up the system. He often uses crude language that seems to connect with many voters. Members of traditional parties have been branded idiots, and journalists morons.
However, Babis has been at the center of his own series of scandals over recent months. He has been accused of using media outlets he bought in recent years to attack rivals, while allegations of financial impropriety saw him sacked as finance minister in June. This month the magnate was charged with fraud over a €2 million ($2.4 million) EU subsidy, while a case accusing Babis of working with the communist-era secret police has been reopened.
Yet supporters remain convinced the “establishment” is trying to shoot Babis down. The billionaire will “get things done” and deal with the “criminals” amongst the political elite, according to many in the crowd at an ANO campaign event in Hradec Kralove — a town of around 90,000 located 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Prague.
Queueing for free coffee and doughnuts made by Agrofert’s local baking company, most attendees are older, supporting suggestions that those who grew up under communism seek a strong leader to shelter them from globalization and terrorism.