Nobody is waiting on the European level for Babiš, EPP Chief Manfred Weber said about the presidential aspirations of former Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš (ANO, Renew).
Babiš advanced to the second round of the Czech presidential election with independent candidate Petr Pavel, former chief of the NATO Military Committee. The second round of the elections with these two candidates is scheduled for 27-28 January 2023.
Ahead of the elections, Babiš is trying to impress voters with his experience in European politics and through contacts and good relations with European leaders.
In fact, the Czech President has few executive powers but often shapes the public debate and represents the country abroad at some international meetings. As Hospodářské noviny reported, if he wins, Babiš would like to represent the Czech Republic at European Council summits, a role currently held by the prime minister.
However, according to Manfred Weber, the head of the European People’s Party, “nobody is waiting on European level for Babiš”.
“He is an ally of Victor Orbán – Putin’s friend,” Weber said during the press conference in Strasbourg on Tuesday in reaction to EURACTIV.cz’s question.
Babiš, who has previously referred to the European Parliament as a “useless” institution, has a bad reputation among many MEPs. The European Parliament, for example adopted a resolution in 2021 in which the EU lawmakers condemned Babiš – the then prime minister of the Czech Republic – over an alleged conflict of interest.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Weber recalled Babiš’s recent meeting with the French president, which took place only a few days before the first round of the Czech presidential elections.
“I was quite surprised that Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, welcomed Babiš as a campaigner a few days before the presidential elections took place,” Weber said.
Both Babiš and Macron represent the Renew Europe group. However, Weber said Renew should “consider” whether Babiš is the right Czech political partner for the liberal party.
(Kateřina Zichová, Aneta Zachová | EURACTIV.cz)
Source: euractiv.com
