2025-09-29
Protest in Prague as conservative Babis leads ahead of election
STORY: :: Prague, Czech Republic:: Crowds gather to demonstrate in support of pro‐EU and pro‐Ukraine parties ahead of the Czech elections:: Some held signs criticizing the ex‐PM and leader of the right‐wing ANO party Andrej Babis, who leads the polls:: September 28, 2025"I am a big opponent of all kinds of mass gatherings, but I came today because, as the slogan of this demonstration says, I am a little afraid of an extremist government that would lead the Czech Republic somewhere else than most people want, that is, to the West.""I came here today because I am concerned about the political situation in our country. It is similar to Slovakia and Hungary. The messages from politicians who are preparing to seize power are clear, and we need to stand up and show that we know our history and the value of democracy. We will fight for it."ANO is running on pledges to lower energy prices, raise salaries and cut corporate taxes. But an ANO-led government would probably clash with the European Union on climate policies and migration, tone down support for Ukraine, and ally more often with Hungary's government led by Viktor Orban.Though not as pro-Russian as Hungary's Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Fico, Babis has said he would stop supplying Western-funded ammunition to Ukraine. ANO has slightly widened its lead over the main center-right ruling coalition, one of the last polls before the ballot showed on Sunday. The poll by the STEM agency for CNN Prima News gave Babis' ANO party 29.3%, up from 28% last week, but still below its longer-term averages.
