Perspective – Written by Ágnes Vass
In the final stretch of the October 3–4 elections in the Czech Republic, each party is trying to outbid the others, as they must win the trust of a dissatisfied public that in recent years has been forced to pay the price of the Fiala government’s missteps out of its own pocket. Although on the surface it may seem that the Czech economy has weathered the worst of the storm—inflation has eased, the koruna is stable, and unemployment remains low—the everyday experience of voters shows just the opposite: a higher cost of living, a declining standard of living, and increasing housing expenses. Czechs are increasingly unwilling to accept the coalition government’s excuses and are demanding genuine, effective solutions instead. Growing war fatigue and concerns about the long-term presence of Ukrainian refugees have only heightened the stakes of the election. In this climate, Andrej Babiš is positioning himself as the alternative, offering a pragmatic, sovereigntist approach that prioritizes Czech interests over costly arms deliveries and emphasizes the need to achieve peace as soon as possible. The public’s shifting attitude suggest that the country is on the verge of a political realignment—one that, with a Babiš victory, could usher in a new era not only in domestic but also in foreign policy.
The full analysis is available here.