The EU must recognise the forces that drove Brexit and reform accordingly, the billionaire frontrunner to become the next Czech prime minister says.
Andrej Babiš, leader of the “anti-establishment” ANO party, told The Daily Telegraph that the EU is chasing the wrong priorities as it eyes deeper integration.
“I’m not a Eurosceptic,” the Czech Republic’s second richest man said during a campaign stop in Nachod – a small town on the Polish border, ahead of elections on Oct 20-21.
“Europe is a great project,” stressed Mr Babiš in an interview following a 10-hour stint of handshakes and book signings. “But European politicians should seriously ask why the UK is leaving. They are dealing with the wrong issues in pursuing further integration.”
Pragmatic but unpredictable, Mr Babiš is often compared to Donald Trump due to his wealth, populist agenda, and Teflon-like ability to brush off financial scandals and coarse outbursts.
Babis seems to know what he wants, more than just to be the top guy that is. Makes him much more worrying. A proper looting of the State is possible….
Worse in one way, maybe. Trump may be unlikely to loot the state, but he’s capable of any manner of wickedness and folly if it makes him feel like a big man.
He wouldn’t say “Europe is a great project” if he was planning to loot Czech. Even our poor Corbyn recognises that the EU is standing in the way of letting him take control of everything.
Babiš is opposed to the Islamicification of Europe.
The rest is detail. It would be better if he did not loot and perhaps was not so close to Moscow. But who cares? Our new Islamic overlords will loot even more and being close to Moscow is better than being Saudi Arabia.
Let’s hope the Czechs vote for the survival of Western civilisation. Along with their Austrian cousins.
Europe is a continent, not a project.
Would be v interested to hear you elaborate o this Tim. Babis profiles seem to fit into two molds – 1) Trump but smarter or 2) a bit less smarmy politician-like than the socialists.
What does he want?
He gargles state aid in what appear to be illegal manners. There’s actually a case against him which seems solid too, won’t get finished before the election. And his basic business background has been murkily state aid financed.
Tim Worstall – “He gargles state aid in what appear to be illegal manners.”
He sounds the perfect person to run the Czech economy. They have prostitution. They have some cheap labour for German factories. And then they have the gurgling of EU state aid in what appears to be an interesting manner.
On the plus side the Czechs have taken 12 rapists-in-waiting and he promises to take even fewer. He seems the lesser of two evils.
Thanks, interesting… so not the Randian ideal of a businessman
‘Trump may be unlikely to loot the state, but he’s capable of any manner of wickedness and folly if it makes him feel like a big man.’
Does your shot at Trump make you feel like a big man?
“A proper looting of the State is possible….” This, but approvingly.