Czech Prime Minister Babis backs Hungary’s Orban ahead of vote

PRAGUE, April 11 (Reuters) – Czech populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Saturday backed Hungarian leader Viktor Orban ahead of Sunday’s ​parliamentary election, saying he was the best choice ‌for Hungarian interests and stability in turbulent times.

Opinion polls indicate Orban, a nationalist who has clashed repeatedly with Brussels and maintains friendly ​ties with the Kremlin, could be ousted after 16 ​years by former ally turned opposition leader Peter ⁠Magyar.

“Supporting Viktor Orban this Sunday. He has always fought ​for a stronger Europe, one built on peace, sovereign ​nations, sovereign member states, competitiveness,” Babis said on X on Saturday.

“In turbulent times, choosing stability and proven leadership matters more than ever.”

Babis, a ​billionaire businessman, has turned from a liberal pro-EU politician ​into a close Orban ally in their Patriots for Europe faction ‌in ⁠the European Parliament.

Since he returned to power last year after a stint in opposition, the Czech Republic has slashed its aid for Ukraine and refused to participate in ​EU’s 90 ​billion euro ($105.47 billion) ⁠loan for Kyiv.

The Czech position on Russia has, however, remained more mainstream than those ​of Hungary and Slovakia.

Babis’s cabinet, which includes ​a ⁠far-right anti-NATO party, is trying to reverse EU’s decarbonisation policies, and is preparing legislation to revamp public media and ⁠bring non-governmental ​organisations under closer scrutiny.

Opponents say ​the plans are modelled on Hungarian and Slovak reforms that undermine democratic ​standards.