Presidential candidate Andrej Babiš induced an uproar when he questioned his nation’s potential help to its closest NATO allies in a reside broadcast debate forward of the nation’s second spherical of presidential elections.
The moderator of the talk broadcasted by Czech Tv on Sunday requested Babiš whether or not he would ship Czech troops into an open battle if Russia attacked Poland or the Baltic nations.
“After all not. I believe we have to speak about peace,” presidential candidate and former prime minister Babiš replied.
The Czech president is the official commander-in-chief of the nation’s armed forces, and the nation, like Poland and all three Baltic nations, is a member of the NATO alliance.
Babiš’s assertion was instantly criticised by high Czech politicians, together with Vice Prime Minister Marian Jurečka (KDU-ČSL, EPP).
“I apologise to all of the residents of Poland and different allies; the dedication that comes from our membership of NATO is and can stay in place, regardless of what Andrej Babiš stated immediately within the debate,” Jurečka wrote on Twitter.
After the talk, Babiš tried to right his phrases.
“Within the Czech TV duel, I didn’t need to reply a hypothetical query about invading Poland or the Baltics. I’m satisfied that it received’t occur, and I don’t need to admit it in any respect. It’s the duty of the world’s politicians to stop warfare. But when an invasion had been to truly happen, I’d in fact adjust to Article 5,” Babiš tweeted.
The ultimate part of the Czech presidential election marketing campaign was formed by the warfare in Ukraine and the restoration of peace. In the course of the election marketing campaign, Babiš offered the opposite presidential candidate – former chair of the NATO navy committee Petr Pavel – as a warmonger.
Babiš and Pavel superior from the primary spherical of direct elections. The second spherical will happen on Friday and Saturday (27-28 January).
In response to the most recent ballot by the STEM company, Pavel would defeat Babiš with 57.7% of the vote.
(Aneta Zachová | EURACTIV.cz)
