Meet The Eccentric, Euroskeptic, Czech Billionaire Who Will Become Prime Minister | Zero Hedge
Description: The Czech election takes place today, with the “Czech Donald Trump”, Andrej Babis, expected to be voted in as Prime Minister. Babis - the "Czech Donald Trump" - is the country's second wealthiest person, and is demanding the return of greater sovereignty from the EU, rejects the Euro and is against Muslim immigration. He has pledged to run the country like a business, while eliminating corruption.
Keywords: Zero Hedge,Zerohedge,Finance,Economics,Markets,Politics,Analysis,Corruption,Czech,Donald Trump,European Union,Germany,Hungary,Poland,Unemployment
Date: 2017-10-21T00:00:00Z

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# Meet The Eccentric, Euroskeptic, Czech Billionaire Who Will Become Prime Minister

by Tyler Durden
Oct 21, 2017 10:49 AM
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The Czech election is taking place today, with the “Czech Donald Trump”, Andrej Babis, expected to be voted in as Prime Minister. As we noted last week, Babis is the Czech Republic’s second wealthiest person, is demanding the return of greater sovereignty from the EU, rejects the Euro and is against Muslim immigration. He has pledged to run the country like a business, while eliminating corruption. Oh, and he is also facing criminal charges for fraud. Babis's anti-establishment party ANO stands for "Action of Dissatisfied Citizens" and is also the Czech word for "yes".

Czech billionaire, Andrej Babis, and his wife Monika

The Prague Daily Monitor (PDM) reports that “ANO is the clear favourite of (sic) the election that will take place on Friday and Saturday. Opinion polls indicate that ANO is likely to win two times more votes than the CSSD, which may be narrowly overcome by the Communists (KSCM) and possibly even the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) movement of populist Tomio Okamura or the right-wing Civic Democrats (ODS).”

In last night’s final one-and-a-half hour televised confrontation, Babis sparred with Foreign Minister, Lubomir Zaoralek, of the social democratic CSSD party. Behind in the polls, Zaoralek didn’t pull his punches “Zaoralek called Babis a parasite in connection with the work of the cabinet. ‘He pretends that all that was good about the government was him,’ Zaoralek said in reaction to Babis’s criticism of the outgoing government that comprises the CSSD, ANO and the smaller Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL). Babis is a predator who insolently liquidated his competition, Zaoralek said. He said the financial authorities issued property-freezing orders that liquidated companies that were rivals of firms from the giant Agrofert holding (owned by Babis).”

Until May this year, Babis was Czech Finance Minister, but was forced to vacate the post by incumbent Prime Minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, due to “controversial financial transactions, alleged misuse of media against his political rivals and a suspected subsidy fraud.” Babis has been charged with transferring a 50 million koruna EU subisdy to one of his business interests. Babis claims that the allegations are untrue and deliberately made to remove him from politics.

Despite the allegations, Bloomberg reports that “the Slovak-born businessman solidified his popularity in the more than three years that he served as finance minister…Taking credit for the European Union’s lowest unemployment, one of its fastest rates of economic growth, and a balanced budget, Babis has portrayed himself as a competent manager struggling against traditional parties he brands as inept and corrupt. While that’s lifted his ANO party, his attacks against Muslim immigration and criticism of the EU have helped fuel the rise of anti-establishment political forces similar to Germany’s AfD and Austria’s Freedom Party. It’s also raised concern that he may follow the governments of Poland and Hungary, which have clashed with Brussels over democratic values.” One of Babis’s unconventional proposals is to make it compulsory for retailers to link cash registers to the Finance Ministry to increase revenue and reduce tax evasion.

Fraud charges aside, If Babis wins, it’s unlikely to be plain sailing for the new Prime Minister. The Bloomberg report quotes Prague-based political analyst, Jacob Charvat saying “It will be a very fragmented parliament, and it will make coalition talks difficult. There is also a great deal of personal animosity among politicians, which may complicate things further.” Based on last night’s TV debate, he’s not kidding.

- Donald Trump
- Germany
- Hungary
- Poland
- Czech
- Corruption
- Unemployment
- European Union

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new game Oct 21, 2017 10:54 AM

hope and change til the euro swamp infiltrates...

the people spoke, but nobody in brussels gave a shit...

earth to germany, we have an epic disaster ongoing.

hint:the are from the mideast.

InjectTheVenom new game Oct 21, 2017 10:55 AM

#MCGA

Looney InjectTheVenom Oct 21, 2017 10:59 AM

Anyone who “rejects the Euro and is against Muslim immigration” is immediately labeled as a Nazi, Racist, or Sado-Misogynist. ;-)

Looney

Mimir Looney Oct 21, 2017 11:11 AM

Surely Nazis, Racists, Fascists or .... will mostly be against the Euro, the EU and muslims.

Escrava Isaura Mimir Oct 21, 2017 11:37 AM

Babis has pledged to run the country like a business, while eliminating corruption.

Say no more.

Czechs are fucked.

“The naive doesn’t see the danger until it is at his throat.” — Noam Chomsky

. . . _ _ _ . . . Escrava Isaura Oct 21, 2017 12:01 PM

"He has pledged to run the country like a business, while eliminating corruption."
Czech Donald Trump... sounds more like he's gonna' end up like the Czech JFK.

Escrava Isaura . . . _ _ _ . . . Oct 21, 2017 12:26 PM

If only the Czechs could be that lucky.

Until May this year, Babis was Czech Finance Minister, but was forced to vacate the post by incumbent Prime Minister, Bohuslav Sobotka, due to “controversial financial transactions, alleged misuse of media against his political rivals and a suspected subsidy fraud.” Babis has been charged with transferring a 50 million koruna EU subisdy to one of his business interests.

Son of Loki Escrava Isaura Oct 21, 2017 12:41 PM

Very possible we'll have a vibrant (safe) Eastern block of muzlim-free nations like the Austro-Czech-Hungarian Empire.

Boooyaaah!

Open immigration to like-minded productive conservatives and you will attract bright young minds who have similar Western values.

Perimetr Son of Loki Oct 21, 2017 1:02 PM

Thank God, finally , after all these years of waiting

an oligarch for Prime Minister.

Wait . . . .

. . . _ _ _ . . . Escrava Isaura Oct 21, 2017 12:58 PM

I meant that he was gonna' get shot.

ZD1 Escrava Isaura Oct 21, 2017 1:06 PM

Escrava the commie Brazilian gobbled her daily dose of red pills and is hallucinating again.

Steroid Looney Oct 21, 2017 11:22 AM

It seems that tha Austro-Hungarian Monarchy was a natural alliance after all,

Beyond it was a bulwark protecting Europe for centuries against the muslim hordes She was organically grown between the German and Russian imperialistic aspirations. Hopefully, they will manage even better without the Habsburgs. The countries' leadership are ready. Will they find each other again?

Peterman333 Steroid Oct 21, 2017 12:01 PM

They can't manage without a Habsburg, it will go up in flames, mark my words. Only a divinely appointed monarch can rule these diverse nations and keep peace and prosperity for the people there. Believe it or don't, nobody cares but it's the truth.

Steroid Peterman333 Oct 21, 2017 12:45 PM

They might speak a different language but they are more similar than some of the slavic countries.

They do not need a common ruler or super-state. a loose confederation would beat any other form of government. Mises suggested it a century ago.

That would end the German and Russian colonialisation of these countries. So they did everything to prevent it

My guess that some of the neighbours would be happy to join. Poland, maybe the Baltics from the north and some of the formar Yugoslav republics from the south.

They could become again truly more than just a dualistic, anachronistic power.

just the tip Looney Oct 21, 2017 11:30 AM

you say that like it's a bad thing.

Rex Andrus new game Oct 21, 2017 11:08 AM

Who do you think the unelected EU minions work for? Just who do you think they are? Why do you think they are converting oil into your blood in your streets? You should have known we lost when Churchhole converted to socialism.

relativemoney Oct 21, 2017 10:56 AM

smart investor..... ruling the country will increase the odds to increase the values of his investments

Gaius Frakkin' ... relativemoney Oct 21, 2017 11:17 AM

The average person on the low end of the economic scale is more worried about being raped, killed, or simply replaced by sandniggers or other non-Whites.

Politics has changed from the bubblegum "rich vs poor" game of the Baby Boomer generation.

new game Gaius Frakkin' Baltar Oct 21, 2017 11:21 AM

all this shit leads to one end: blooddhed over religion.

same as it has ALWAYS been.

kill or be killed in the name of god. god be with the winner(of course).

may god lead us to victory(of course)

which god will win? can i place a bet?

odds down favorite is the one with the most best strategy, and firepower.

oh, that god driven army, sure bet...

SSM

MEFOBILLS new game Oct 21, 2017 11:38 AM

all this shit leads to one end: blooddhed over religion.

Are the Catholic Poles killing themselves over their religion? Are Orthodox Christian's in Russia killing themselves over their religion? How about the buddhists in Mynamar?

Islam is being used as a tool for destabilization. Western Illuminst elites have been using Islam since Reagan enlisted Sunni Mujahdeen to defeat Soviets in Afghanistan.

Salafi Islam, especially Wahabbi branch was sanctioned with 73 Kissinger Saudi agreement. Kissinger is a CFR agent.

Hungary had a constitutional kingdom anchored with a form of Catholicism, that lasted nearly 1000 years. In that period they acted as a bulwark against Muslim invasion, allowing western civilization to develop.

Islam is not just a religion, it is a religio - political construct. It is a full immersive ideology.

So, not all religions are created the same - some are much worse than others. Talmud, for example is a pyschopathic construct, and its perversions can be easily discerned by reading it - if you can stomach it. Islam's pathologies can be found also, especially by using their doctrine of abrogation. Most of the early pacific passages are abrogated by the later passages.

Islam is a danger, but so are the money powered illuminist elites.

Gaius Frakkin' ... new game Oct 21, 2017 11:48 AM

Religion has always been a component to any civilization.

Only a fool would cut it out without asking the fundamental question why that is the case.

Peterman333 new game Oct 21, 2017 11:55 AM

Nazi Germany 20 million killed, Communist Russia 50-65 million killed, Mao's athiestic China 45 million killed (at least),

Athiestic states all, it's LACK OF religion that kills more than anything. Of course a historical idiot such as yourself keeps spewing this nonsense about religion.

. . . _ _ _ . . . Peterman333 Oct 21, 2017 12:03 PM

USA 20-30 million killed since the end of WW2.

urhotdogs . . . _ _ _ . . . Oct 21, 2017 12:40 PM

Abortions

ssnova new game Oct 21, 2017 1:05 PM

Many of the Liberal Atheists always got that wrong. If you read the Bible, you know Jesus' stance on dealing with people, love and peace, spread the "good news", if it's rejected, the Christians were commanded to shake the dust off their feet and move on.

Whereas in Islam, the Quran states to force conversion, and you see that all over where Muslims have taken over, especially in Africa and the Middle East, "fastest growing religion" by force, they come in killing, raping, etc.- which is allowed to them.

Also, many forget, Nazi's loved Muslims, Hitler was a fan of Islam, look it up. Hitler was a nutcase, a forceful nutcase, taking away freedom from his people, communism-full power-to the government-brainwashed-helpless citizen type of government. Best modern day example is North Korea, Hitler de-armed the citizens, fooled them into it, so that he could be forceful without resistant.

Look, as an American who believes in our constitution, and getting back to our roots (Christian based I might add), I'm not for changing our laws to Islam... a good Muslim believes to take over the world by force.... not through living peacefully with their neighbors... one has to be aware of this...so we should vett immigrants at this time, we should limit our spots at this time, as we have our own mess to deal with at this time... perhaps later when we get our stuff together, we can consider opening up our immigration a little, but it's just chaos now... we have so many Muslim migrants, many of them who have stated to bring harm and to intently take over.... why would you open up to such people? You're not a bigot or a racist if you're just trying to take care of your family first(if you can't takecare of yourself, how can you take care of others? You cannot give what you do not have...common sense...)... which is a conservative Christian value... I've argued with many Socialist angy Liberals on this, who believe no one should have private ownership, and no one should be able to own anything, blah blah blah... and that taking away freedom and forcing ideology from the government will make this place better... but they just don't get it... and these people(angry "Socialist" liberals) have mostly White (granted, Feminist usually goes hand in hand with it too, but also lots of poor-yet liberally-college-educated White males who bought into this, thinking it'll solve their problems).

Many times I've used this as an argument against Liberals when talking about immigration(I'm not necessarily against it, just, it has to be done in an orderly fashion, sometimes it needs to be curbed until the situation is figured out.. which may mean not accepting criminals by our laws...but I digress).. Here's the argument I used: "when I visit Germany, I want to see the rich history, the historic buildings, the foods, the people, the cultre that made that land.... this is out of respect to that land the peopel of that land... if I ever wanted to visit a Muslim Middle Eastern country, likewise, the people, the food, the land, the history, the culture.. etc... as I'm a visitor to that land.. and if I really wanted to become a citizen to immigrate to another land, I'd be respecting that land, sure I'd bring my own identity too, like my foods, my own culture, etc. but at the end of the day if I'm a citizen of that land, I'd respect and admire the ways of the land enough to want to be a citizen there".... likewise, sure people can come into this country, but we have laws, traditions, and a history that needs to be recognized, like any other land you visit... You don't see foreigners going to the Middle East(Muslim ruled) and breaking laws without consequences(heck you can't even wear short pants or sleaves in many of those countries without breaking a law there)... but if they(Muslims) come to a foreign land and demand that the laws be changed to cater to them... then they're in the wrong place, why not go somewhere else that is Muslim ruled already if their laws and ways are so awesome? You don't have a single "free" Muslim ruled country... and it sickens me that Liberals do not have this forsite, nor respect for Christian values that have made most of the "Western Civilization"..including the USA, the nation has a history, a culture, and an identity...and laws that were formed from that history.

I've ranted on, but the point is, The Liberals have falsely labeled Conservatives as Nazi's to demonize them, this is just utter non-sense, Nazi's are scum, I'd put 'em in with Left-Wing Communists(as that's what they are...anti-gun, anti-freedom, total thought control regime... Liberal=Nazi... only the state has Firepower to oppress+supress the citizens)... and though some Conservatives jokingly embrace the Nazi title, I stand against it, because with the exception(and extreme minority)of the lost Neo Nazi's groups... most Conservative Americans are everything against Nazism(again, a Liberal, far left, forceful-communist-regime, that takes freedom and power away from the citizens)... and it digusts me when some friends are starting to think they might be something that the Liberals falsely labeled them as, when I'd say, a Conservative can accurately label a Liberal as a Nazi, and correctly saying that Hillary("Hitlery") has more in common with Hilter than Trump... speaking ideologically..

hooligan2009 Oct 21, 2017 10:58 AM

more death to libtard socialism enabled by central banks?

winning!

DaiRR Oct 21, 2017 10:59 AM

Sovereignty. What a concept. Love it !

Rex Andrus Oct 21, 2017 11:03 AM

Isn't it cute how they show you their fangs when they catch you, before they eat you?

Heterodox economics Oct 21, 2017 11:07 AM

The crusade for a Europe of nations continues

NATIONALISM TODAY

NATIONALIM TOMORROW

NATIONALISM FOREVER!

Juggernaut x2 Heterodox economics Oct 21, 2017 11:18 AM

Europe should be returned to its pre-1914 borders.

Juggernaut x2 Oct 21, 2017 11:17 AM

The Czech Republic? Don't you mean the Austro-Hungarian Empire? Woodrow Wilson was a real cocksucker.

adonisdemilo Oct 21, 2017 11:28 AM

I really don't care what they say he's done as long as he's banging nails inti the coffin of the unelected, self promoted, over paid EU Commission.

just the tip Oct 21, 2017 11:32 AM

when i here the czechs have deep sixed soros, that's the day i move to the czech republic.

I Write Code Oct 21, 2017 11:41 AM

I'll bet he's colluding with Putin as we speak.

"Colluding With Putin", sounds like a great title for a Hollywood movie.

A Harvey Weinstein character is going about his sleezy business when he is accidentally caught up in a nest of Russian spies who are going to upset American democracy by, um, fixing football games. And it's going to work, American civilization will fall, if there is one more upset on Sunday. But Harv exposes himself to the Russian femme fatale, who nearly beats him to death on the streetcorner, and somehow that saves the day, but Harv is sent to jail for collusion and the Russian girl gets a movie deal. The End.

Mr. Apotheosis Oct 21, 2017 12:21 PM

Don't worry serfs, the rich will save you!

JoeTurner Oct 21, 2017 12:37 PM

It is really fn cool to be living in such revolutionary times....

fiftybagger Oct 21, 2017 12:41 PM

More reverso trannies. It's a lock:

https://tuotrodiario.hola.com/imagenes/empresa/2017031566748/andrej-babi...

Honest Sam Oct 21, 2017 12:57 PM

So a country that has 4 mm less people in it than our state of Illinois, can't be governed without massive corruption, double-dealing, lying politicians, and owned by the 1%.

How in the F does anyone expect a country with 25x as many people in it, with twice as many illegal alliens as the entire population of Czechoslovakia, to be governed at all?

FlKeysFisherman Oct 21, 2017 1:06 PM

LOL, the Establishment all across the West is completely discredited. The only reason Germany hasn't joined in is their economy is strong. Wait until the next economic downturn and you'll see it there too.

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