Babis pledges loyalty to Europe as Czech government talks begin

Babis said he would seek backing for his government from the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) movement, which earned 7.8 percent for 15 seats, and right-wing newcomers, the Motorists, with 6.8 percent and 13 seats.

A self-proclaimed "Trumpist", Babis won over voters with pledges of welfare and halting military aid to Ukraine, which made pundits worry the country might shift towards EU mavericks Slovakia and Hungary if he takes over.

"We have discussed the election result and our image in NATO and the EU. I keep seeing negative information... and I think it's not fair," Babis told reporters after meeting President Petr Pavel on Sunday morning.

The 71-year-old, Slovak-born Babis stressed he was pro-European and wanted "Europe to work well".

But a day before the vote, Babis said the Czech Republic should help Ukraine through the EU, not directly as up to now.

"Every year, we send 2.5 billion euros in the budget to Brussels. And of course Brussels is helping Ukraine. And the new proposal for the new budget includes a large sum for Ukraine. So I think we are there," Babis said.

Asked by a Ukrainian reporter whether he would support Kyiv's accession bid, Babis said the country was "not prepared for the EU".

"We have to end the war first," he added.

The Together grouping of outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala, a staunch supporter of Kyiv battling a Russian invasion since 2022, scored 23.4 percent for 52 seats in the vote.

Also entering parliament are the junior coalition STAN party with 11.2 percent and 22 seats, and the Pirate Party with 9 percent and 18 seats.

Babis has also pledged to review a Czech-led international drive to supply artillery shells to Ukraine, launched by Fiala's government, and "discuss it with (Ukrainian) President (Volodymyr) Zelensky" if necessary.

- Far-right outreach -

In the European Parliament, ANO is part of the far-right Patriots for Europe bloc, which Babis co-founded with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Babis met the heads of the far-right SPD and the Motorists on Saturday evening but declined to comment on the outcome, saying only the talks were "mostly positive".

"We will definitely... seek a single-party government led by ANO," Babis said.

The SPD is pushing a referendum on leaving the European Union, which Babis has vehemently rejected.

"I think the SPD... will be the key player," Otto Eibl, an analyst at Masaryk University in the second Czech city of Brno, told AFP.

"We'll see if it's happy with staying outside the government while wielding some influence on its policy," he added.

- 'Czechs first' -

Under the Czech constitution, President Pavel is due to tap the next premier, and he has voiced concern over Babis's conflict of interest as a businessman and politician.

In office since beating Babis in a 2023 presidential run-off vote, Pavel met Babis earlier this week to discuss his dual role.

Babis said Sunday he had given Pavel "some documents", after vowing earlier to deliver "a solution that will be in line with Czech and European laws".

The seventh-wealthiest Czech, according to Forbes magazine, Babis is also facing trial over EU subsidy fraud worth more than $2 million.

He is charged with taking his farm south of Prague out of his sprawling Agrofert food and chemicals holding in 2007 to make it eligible for an EU subsidy for small companies.

Describing himself as a "peacemonger" calling for a truce in Ukraine, Babis has vowed a "Czechs first" approach, echoing US President Donald Trump.

When he was prime minister from 2017 to 2021, Babis was critical of some EU policies and is on good terms with Orban and Slovakia's Robert Fico, who have maintained ties with Moscow despite its invasion of Ukraine.

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