Prof. Wawrzyniec Konarski assessed in an interview with PAP that Andrej Babisz, whose movement was won by parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic, is a plutocrat and tells potential partners what they want to hear. In his opinion, Babisz “coquet” Poles in case the power to change in Poland.
According to the calculation of cards on Saturday with 99.70 percent. Electoral Districts in the Czech Republic, the movement of Ano Babisza, who was in opposition for four years, obtained 34.66 percent in elections to the Chamber of Deputies. votes. The center -right Coalition of the Soup managed by Prime Minister Petr Fiama got 23.28 percent. votes.
Babisz declared on Saturday that Poland was always the closest partner of the Czech Republic. “If I become a prime minister, I will definitely contact Mr. (Donald) Tusk and offer him a meeting,” Babisz announced. He also assured that he would strive to maintain good relations with Poland, regardless of what faction the ruling party belongs to. – We, the Czechs, used to be the best, Poles overtook us almost in everything, but we have always worked and achieved good results – he said.
In the opinion of the rector and prof. Academy of Finance and Business Vistula Wawrzyniec Konarski, Babisz is a politician who can be described by the Czech incarnation of a plutocrat. – Plutocrat is someone who has strong political influence, also because he has money and uses this money to achieve their goals – he explained in an interview with PAP.
As he noted, Babisz in the past spoke about Poland in a “not flattering” way. – Due to the fact that he is a millionaire, and at the same time he has experience as a former prime minister, Babisz has become a classic political player who will say exactly what he knows that his potential partners will want to hear – the expert noted.
According to him, Saturday's statement of the Czech politician is also to be part of the aforementioned game. As he said, Babisz is aware that Poland has achieved a great economic success, and at the same time is an important NATO member, exposed directly to the threats of war in Ukraine.
– Babisz, on the canvas of his aspirations, as well as the political message of his own move, is a politician who, through this statement, to some extent coquet not only Poland as a state, how many politicians currently gaining great public approval, and especially President Karol Nawrocki – emphasized Konarski. As he pointed out, the former Czech prime minister is ideally closer to the broadly understood camp camp than to the Polish government headed by Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
– His coquetry towards Poland is clearly preparing a good land in the event that the authorities would change in Poland someday – believes the political scientist.
After the European Parliament election in 2024, the movement of the eurosceptic patriots for Europe joined the group of eurosceptic patriots, which he co -creates with the Hungarian Fidesz or the French National Union. In his statements, Babisz did not hide his skepticism towards some ideas related to the European Union. He did not want euro and green order, migration pact and built a coalition against migration amounts.
According to Konarski, the victory of Babisz's party shows that a large part of Czech society believes that the EU has no idea for itself and is not ready to carry out a significant reform of internal structures. – We are dealing with a situation in which the contesting of existing ideas for European integration is gaining attractiveness, because the main politicians of the Union themselves have no idea to reform this structure – he assessed.
– This generates the development of populist tendencies in countries that are today in a situation, because on the one hand they are in the Union or in NATO, and on the other hand they see and feel what is happening in Eastern Europe, being forced to think about their safety. The current situation is therefore a bit of a game led by elites in countries where eurosceptic moods grow, if only to either maintain power or get it – added the interlocutor PAP.
Prof. Czaputowicz: The victory is confirmed by a conservative return in Central Europe
The victory of the movement of Ano Andrej Babisz confirms the political shift in Central Europe towards the conservative current – assessed in an interview with PAP prof. Jacek Czaputowicz, former head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He added that Poland can count on good relations with Prague and continuation of cooperation in the field of security and European policy.
– Poland already has experience of cooperation with the movement and Prime Minister Andrej Babisz, when bilateral relations and cooperation within the Visegrad Group arranged very well. In my opinion, the victory in the current election indicates the shift of political trends in Central Europe to a more conservative direction, which can also be seen on the example of Hungary and Slovakia – said prof. Czaputowicz. He added that good relations of Poland and the Czech Republic from the time of Babisza's rule should be continued.
The professor also pointed out that after the victory of the Ano movement in the Czech Republic, the government of Donald Tusk, representing the liberal trend in politics, appears in the Visegrad Group as an exception against the background of conservative rule dominating in the region. – From the statements of Andrej Babisz – probably the future prime minister – it appears, however, that he intends to maintain very good relationships with Poland, with his direct partner, of course, Prime Minister Donald Tusk – he noted.
– We must also remember that the Czechs are aware that in Poland the office of president was taken by Karol Nawrocki, which confirms the strong rooting of the conservative trend in national politics. From their perspective, cooperation with Poland will therefore develop in parallel with two power centers – the government of Donald Tusk and the president from the right side of the political scene. In addition, in the Czech Republic it is noticed that in the future the right can be re -covered in Poland – the expert noted.
Prof. Czaputowicz, referring to the possible policy of Andrej Babisz towards Ukraine, emphasized that Poland can count on the support of the Czech Republic also in the sphere of security. He noted that the Czechs declared the strengthening of the Polish armed forces after a drone attack, and their help for the eastern border of Poland, which is the border of NATO and the EU, seems to be determined. According to him, this policy will continue, including support for Ukraine.
– Of course, Babisz was in power before the war in Ukraine. Although his approach to this conflict was not clear, there are no grounds to expect criticism towards Ukraine – he added.
According to the former head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Czech policy towards Ukraine will be in line with the mainstream policy in the European Union, i.e. demanding compliance with international law and supporting Kiev, without looking at Russia, which is seen as a constant threat to the security of the Czech Republic.
The professor reminded that the Czechs have their own negative experiences with the activities of Russian services – in 2014 there was a sabotage in the composition of ammunition in Vrbetice, in which two people were killed. This event, attributed to Russian agents, caused a serious crisis in the accounts of Prague-Moscow and strengthened the Czech perception of Russia as a state conducting hostile activity on the Czech territory.
The former head of Polish diplomacy also assessed that in the area of European policy one should not expect fundamental differences between Poland and the Czech Republic. – I think the Czech Republic will be our allies when it comes to the vision of Europe – he emphasized.
– If Andrej Babisz takes the office of prime minister, he will be in favor of an approach coinciding with the Polish position – opposition to the migration pact, green order and treaty changes increasing the competences of EU institutions at the expense of national states. Czech policy, focused on strengthening the subjectivity of the Member States, coincides with the line presented by Poland, both by the government of Law and Justice in previous years, as well as by the current coalition government – added the expert.
To sum up prof. Czaputowicz pointed out that Poland is perceived in Czech politics as an important entity in the region. – Although in the past, incl. During the pandemic, tension appeared, Babisz emphasized the importance of Poland, which promises well for further relationships. I think that Prime Minister Tusk should meet Babisz as quickly as possible, treating the Czech Republic as a close ally in foreign policy. In the perspective, it is also possible to rebuild cooperation within the Visegrad Group on key issues related to the EU and common interests, with the awareness of existing differences, especially in the approach of Hungary and Slovakia to Russia's war against Ukraine – he added. (PAP)
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