Babiš Courts Voters in Frýdek-Místek, Deflects Questions on Conflict of Interest and Government Formation
A packed restaurant in Frýdek-Místek greeted Andrej Babiš with enthusiastic applause on Thursday, as the ANO movement leader embarked on his first public appearances to connect with supporters following October’s parliamentary elections. The event, held at The Medník restaurant, saw supporters chanting slogans like “Grandma to the Castle!” and “Peacock Place!” – references to the presidential residence and a popular Prague venue – signaling continued fervent support for the politician who secured 34.5 percent of the vote in the recent elections.
Babiš, who is widely expected to contend for the position of Czech Prime Minister currently held by Petr Fiala (ODS), addressed a crowd of over one hundred people, expressing gratitude for their support. “I came to thank you. Because we won. Thanks to you. We won incredibly,” he stated upon arrival. This visit fulfilled a campaign promise to prioritize engagement with voters in the Moravian-Silesian region, a stronghold for the ANO movement, where they secured 43.42 percent of the vote in October.
The meeting largely mirrored the pre-election campaign rallies, though Babiš’s attire signaled a shift in tone. Departing from his usual casual wear of t-shirts and sweatshirts, he appeared in a jacket adorned with a Czech flag on the lapel. However, the ANO leader preemptively discouraged discussion of sensitive topics. “I will ask you not to discuss the government or the president,” Babiš told the audience, effectively placing a taboo on the ongoing debate surrounding his potential premiership and the resolution of his conflict of interest.
The conflict of interest, stemming from Babiš’s ownership of the Agrofert holding, remains a significant hurdle to his appointment. Recent polling data from NMS indicates that nearly three-quarters of Czech citizens believe Babiš should present a concrete plan to address this issue before assuming office. Despite this public pressure, Babiš remained evasive when questioned about potential solutions, including the use of “blind funds.” “They say that Babiš is violating something. Trust me, it’s not like that,” he asserted, adding that he had promised a solution compliant with EU and Czech law, but declined to elaborate on the specifics.
Babiš also sidestepped questions regarding the potential appointment of Filip Turk, a figure associated with the Motorists movement, as foreign minister. President Petr Pavel has reportedly expressed reservations due to past social media activity attributed to Turk, which included allegedly racist comments and instances of aggressive behavior. Babiš stated that a schedule had been agreed upon with President Pavel, and that proposed ministerial lists would be submitted by the Motorists and SPD parties. “Our partners Motorists themselves and the SPD will give us a proposed list of ministers. I will then tell the president. Then the president will call the individual candidates and talk to them,” he explained.
Despite Babiš’s request to avoid contentious topics, voters pressed him on the delay in government formation. “It’s almost a month after the election. Why is the president still blocking your appointment?” one attendee asked. Babiš responded with a conciliatory tone, stating, “The president is an institution, he was elected. I think it will turn out well in the end.”
The conversation also turned to the role of Czech Television (ČT). A supporter questioned whether Babiš would address perceived bias within the public broadcaster. Babiš responded with a reference to his recent social media activity, stating, “You should check my Facebook. Did you see me planting that lily this morning?” He then outlined plans to establish a legal framework allowing the Supreme Audit Office to oversee the management of ČT and CRo, and suggested exploring a funding model similar to Poland’s, where television fees are sourced from the state budget. He explicitly stated that the ANO movement would not seek to interfere with the content of programs.
Looking ahead, Babiš announced plans to create a government commissioner for IT, with a focus on streamlining processes such as pre-filling tax returns. “It would be nice if we could do a project in the four years, for example prefilling the tax return,” he said.
The meeting underscored Babiš’s continued appeal to his base, even as significant challenges remain regarding his path to the premiership and the resolution of lingering concerns about conflicts of interest.
