Populist billionaire sweeps to victory in Czech election
Czech
voters abandoned traditional political parties in elections held over
the weekend to hand controversial billionaire Andrej Babiš an emphatic
victory.
The result followed regional trends as populist and Right-wing parties surged at the expense of the Left and pro-EU mainstream.
Mr Babiš’ centrist and populist ANO took close to 30 per cent of the vote, handing it 78 of the 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The billionaire promises to run the country like a business and clean up a “corrupt” political system. Despite Eurosceptic comments and opposition to immigration, he considers EU membership the Czech Republic’s top priority.
However, with nine parties passing the 5 per cent threshold needed to enter the lower house of parliament, the billionaire faces tough negotiations to form a coalition.
The result followed regional trends as populist and Right-wing parties surged at the expense of the Left and pro-EU mainstream.
Mr Babiš’ centrist and populist ANO took close to 30 per cent of the vote, handing it 78 of the 200 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The billionaire promises to run the country like a business and clean up a “corrupt” political system. Despite Eurosceptic comments and opposition to immigration, he considers EU membership the Czech Republic’s top priority.
However, with nine parties passing the 5 per cent threshold needed to enter the lower house of parliament, the billionaire faces tough negotiations to form a coalition.
Mainstream
parties have pledged they will not serve with Mr Babiš as premier due
to fraud charges laid against him earlier this month. Petr Fiala of the
Eurosceptic centre-right ODS, which came second with 11 per cent of the
vote, stressed his party will honour that promise.
Many worry that stance could drive Mr Babiš to team up with other populist parties.
A surprisingly strong showing by the far-right SPD echoed recent results in German and Austrian elections. The anti-EU and Islam party SPD took around 11 per cent of votes, matching the 22 seats won by the Pirates, who attracted liberals unhappy with traditional parties. SPD’s half-Japanese leader Tomio Okamura said that a referendum on Czexit will be his key demand in any coalition talks.
Many worry that stance could drive Mr Babiš to team up with other populist parties.
A surprisingly strong showing by the far-right SPD echoed recent results in German and Austrian elections. The anti-EU and Islam party SPD took around 11 per cent of votes, matching the 22 seats won by the Pirates, who attracted liberals unhappy with traditional parties. SPD’s half-Japanese leader Tomio Okamura said that a referendum on Czexit will be his key demand in any coalition talks.
Mr Babiš
has rejected forming a government with the SPD, but has left a backdoor
open to a minority government with support from either the extreme Right
or Left.
However, the Left was decimated, and the communist KSČM recorded its worst ever result at just under 8 per cent. However, it still beat the centre-left Social Democrats (ČSSD), leader of the outgoing coalition that includes ANO.
ANO’s deputy chairman said the ČSSD, which slumped to 7 per cent despite a booming economy, is likely first on the list of potential partners. However, CSSD officials suggest it may prefer to go into opposition.
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However, the Left was decimated, and the communist KSČM recorded its worst ever result at just under 8 per cent. However, it still beat the centre-left Social Democrats (ČSSD), leader of the outgoing coalition that includes ANO.
ANO’s deputy chairman said the ČSSD, which slumped to 7 per cent despite a booming economy, is likely first on the list of potential partners. However, CSSD officials suggest it may prefer to go into opposition.
Many ESC fans from all over the world are so very sad because we lost Joy Fleming - one of the best singers ever.
Betty MacDonald fan club founder Wolfgang Hampel sings 'Try to remember' especially for Betty MacDonald fan club organizer Linde Lund at Vita Magica September
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Vita Magica Betty MacDonald event with Wolfgang Hampel, Thomas Bödigheimer and Friedrich von Hoheneichen
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Wolfgang Hampel - DBpedia ( English / German )
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Vashon Island - Wikipedia ( German )
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Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( English )
Wolfgang Hampel - Ma and Pa Kettle - Wikipedia ( French )
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Wolfgang Hampel in Florida State University
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