Czech populist billionaire Andrej Babiš sworn in for return as prime minister

Описание: (9 Dec 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Prague, Czech Republic - 9 December 2025
1. New Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš getting credentials from Czech President Petr Pavel
2. Babiš arriving at ceremony
3. Close of Babiš
4. Pavel arriving
5. SOUNDBITE (Czech) Andrej Babiš, Czech Prime Minister:
"I promise all citizens of the Czech Republic that I will fight for their interests not only at home, but everywhere in the world, that I will do my utmost to fulfill our government's program statement, and that I will do my utmost to make the Czech Republic the best place to live on our entire planet. And once again, thank you very much."
6. Honor guard leaving the room, Babiš and Pavel clinking glasses
STORYLINE:
Populist billionaire Andrej Babiš was sworn in Tuesday as the Czech Republic's new prime minister, following October’s parliamentary election, in a return to power for the businessman.

Babiš, who was previously prime minister from 2017-2021, promised Czechs that he “will fight for their interests at home and anywhere in the world” and will do his utmost for the Czech Republic to become “the best place to live on our entire planet.”

President Petr Pavel asked Babiš to form a new government after his ANO, or YES, movement won big in the Oct. 3-4 ballot and agreed to form a majority coalition government with two other small political groups, the Freedom and Direct Democracy anti-migrant party and the right-wing Motorists for Themselves.

The parties have agreed to create a 16-member Cabinet, with ANO holding eight posts and the prime minister's office.

The Motorists would have four and the Freedom party three.

The new partnership makes up 108 seats in the 200-seat lower house of parliament, relegating the four center-right parties of the pro-Western government led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala to the opposition.

It wasn't immediately clear when Pavel might appoint the entire Cabinet.

Its appointment is expected to change the government’s policies.

The new coalition is set to follow Hungary and Slovakia, and steer the country away from supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

The coalition members are critical of the European Union, rejecting its policies, particularly on environment and migration.

Babiš, 71, still faces fraud charges in a case involving EU subsidies, and the new parliament will have to lift his official immunity for a court to issue a verdict.

AP Video shot by Stanislav Hodina

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