The presidential elections campaign is being shaped by the fear of war, with experts noting that former prime minister Andrej Babiš is presenting ex-chairman of the NATO Military Committee Petr Pavel as a warmonger and promising he does not want to ‘drag Czechia into war’.
According to the Czech political marketing expert Jakub Horák, Babiš uses Soviet bloc propaganda style and shows his rival – Petr Pavel – as a warmonger. “Parasitising the fear of war is the worst thing we have seen in political campaigns so far,” Horák posted on Twitter.
“Babiš’s only chance of success lies in trying to discourage and divide all of you who rejected him in the first round. That is why he has started an anti-campaign instead of a dignified thank you. Let’s not get discouraged and beat him again in two weeks,” Pavel commented on his rival campaign.
Pavel, an independent candidate with governmental support, narrowly won the first round of the presidential elections, gaining 35.4% of votes. Babiš (ANO, Renew) took the second position with 34.9%. The second round of the elections with these two candidates is scheduled on 27-28 January.
Babiš – a populist candidate for the Czech presidential post – has launched an aggressive campaign ahead of the second round. “I will not drag Czechia into war. I am a diplomat, not a soldier,” stands on new political banners of the presidential candidate.
Before the first round of elections, Babiš visited his Renew party ally – French President Emmanuel Macron. In his speeches, Babiš often refers to himself as a politician of European calibre, who has many friends among European leaders, including Macron.
“Andrej Babiš is not a diplomat,” Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský (Pirates, Greens) tweeted in reaction to Babiš’s campaign.
The Czech President has little executive powers but often shapes the public debate. As Hospodářské noviny reported, Babiš would like to represent the Czech Republic at European Council summits, the role currently held by the prime minister.
(Aneta Zachová | EURACTIV.cz)
Source: euractiv.com
