Presidential candidate Andrej Babiš caused an uproar when he questioned his country’s possible assistance to its closest NATO allies in a live broadcast debate ahead of the country’s second round of presidential elections.
The moderator of the debate broadcasted by Czech Television on Sunday asked Babiš whether he would send Czech troops into an open conflict if Russia attacked Poland or the Baltic countries.
“Of course not. I think we need to talk about peace,” presidential candidate and former prime minister Babiš replied.
The Czech president is the official commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces, and the country, like Poland and all three Baltic countries, is a member of the NATO alliance.
Babiš’s statement was immediately criticised by top Czech politicians, including Vice Prime Minister Marian Jurečka (KDU-ČSL, EPP).
“I apologise to all the citizens of Poland and other allies; the commitment that comes from our membership of NATO is and will remain in place, despite what Andrej Babiš said today in the debate,” Jurečka wrote on Twitter.
After the debate, Babiš tried to correct his words.
“In the Czech TV duel, I did not want to answer a hypothetical question about invading Poland or the Baltics. I am convinced that it won’t happen, and I don’t want to admit it at all. It is the responsibility of the world’s politicians to prevent war. But if an invasion were to actually take place, I would of course comply with Article 5,” Babiš tweeted.
The final phase of the Czech presidential election campaign was shaped by the war in Ukraine and the restoration of peace. During the election campaign, Babiš presented the other presidential candidate – former chair of the NATO military committee Petr Pavel – as a warmonger.
Babiš and Pavel advanced from the first round of direct elections. The second round will take place on Friday and Saturday (27-28 January).
According to the latest poll by the STEM agency, Pavel would defeat Babiš with 57.7% of the vote.
This story originally appeared at EurActiv, partners of LRT English
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