Following the October 2025 elections, Andrej Babiš, leader of the far-right ANO (YES) movement, formed a coalition government with two smaller right-wing extremist parties. This coalition is implementing policies that diverge from key European Union directives and has suspended support for Ukraine. The parties align with Russian President Vladimir Putin‘s foreign policy and express support for US President Donald Trump‘s MAGA movement.
As Prime Minister, Babiš is expected to significantly influence both foreign and domestic policies. Unlike the previous pro-Western administration led by Petr Fiala, Babiš has decided not to provide financial assistance to Ukraine or guarantee EU loans. The coalition government aims to fundamentally change the Czech Republic’s principles, potentially shifting toward a more authoritarian model.
A recent conflict emerged when President Petr Pavel declined to appoint a minister from the far-right Motorists for Themselves party, as proposed by its leader, Foreign Minister Petr Macinka, citing eligibility concerns. In retaliation, Minister Macinka sent messages to President Pavel, suggesting that there would be consequences if he did not appoint his controversial associate, including the possibility of preventing the President from representing the Czech Republic at the next NATO Summit. Many observers have characterised such actions as an attempt at blackmail.
In an interview published on the novinky.cz website, on 2 February, Alexandr Vondra, deputy chairman of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), expressed his concern that the ongoing dispute between the Babiš government and the President is compromising the Czech Republic’s credibility among its international partners. MEP Vondra, who has an extensive background as a diplomat and politician, including roles as an advisor to President Václav Havel, Ambassador to the USA from 1997 to 2001, and Foreign Minister, raised concerns about the potential exclusion of the Czech Republic from specific informal negotiations within the European Union.
Furthermore, the Czech MEP emphasised that this political conflict has overshadowed the government’s submission of a budget proposal that appears to contravene the Budget Responsibility Act, exceeding the projected deficit by 70 to 100 billion crowns.
Alexandr Vondra emphasised that the impact of Babiš’s government on Czech foreign policy undermines “the trust of the state abroad.” He noted that the Czech Republic has maintained a consensus on foreign policy and security in recent years, which is crucial given the country’s need for allies in a turbulent world.
He criticised the government for using foreign policy as a tool for domestic political struggles, stating that this rhetoric affects the country’s international standing. Specifically, he pointed to Babiš’s December decision not to participate in guarantees for economic aid to Ukraine, which led to the Czech Republic being listed alongside Hungary and Slovakia in official documents. He called this a misguided decision that brought shame to the Czech Republic.
MEP Vondra also warned of the damage the government could inflict on the Czech Republic’s defence capabilities.
The government is significantly cutting defence spending in the budget. Every NATO member should prioritise their commitments, especially with US President Donald Trump’s tough stance, the MEP emphasised. “If the expectation was 2.3% of GDP for defence, but the government now proposes only 2%, it signals a lack of commitment to defence and undermines our authority abroad,” he explained.
Regarding Macinka’s threat to prevent President Pavel from attending the NATO summit and replace him with Babiš, MEP Vondra called this a violation of established rules and unacceptable. “Such actions could lead to our exclusion from future meetings,” he warned. He explained that there are various informal gatherings where trust is crucial.
