“In turbulent times, it's important to choose stability.” Viktor Orban, supported by his Czech counterpart in Sunday's election

Populist Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Saturday expressed his support for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of Sunday's parliamentary elections, saying he is the best choice for Hungary's interests and stability in troubled times, Reuters and Agerpres report.

Opinion polls indicate that Orban, a nationalist who has repeatedly clashed with Brussels and maintains friendly ties with the Kremlin, could be ousted from power after 16 years by former ally Peter Magyar, who has become opposition leader.

“I support Viktor Orban on Sunday. He has always fought for a stronger Europe, one built on peace, sovereign nations, sovereign member states and competitiveness,” Babis wrote on the X platform on Saturday.

“In turbulent times, choosing stability and proven leadership matters more than ever,” he added.

Babis, a billionaire businessman, transformed himself from a liberal pro-EU politician to a close ally of Orban in the European Parliament's Patriots for Europe faction.

Since Babis returned to power last year after a stint in opposition, the Czech Republic has cut aid to Ukraine and refused to participate in a 90 billion euro loan granted to Kiev by the EU.

The position of the Czech Republic towards Russia remained, however, closer to the dominant current in the EU than that of Hungary and Slovakia.

Babis's cabinet, which includes a far-right anti-NATO party, is trying to reverse the EU's decarbonisation policies and is preparing laws to reorganize public media and subject non-governmental organizations to closer scrutiny.

Opponents say the plans are modeled after reforms in Hungary and Slovakia that undermine democratic standards.