Billionaire Populist Babis Returns as Czech Prime Minister

Andrej Babis, a billionaire populist and political ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, was sworn in as the Czech Republic's prime minister on Tuesday. His return signals a potential shift in the country's foreign policy, including possible reductions in aid to Ukraine and a more confrontational stance toward the European Union. Babis's ANO movement secured a parliamentary majority by forming a coalition with two smaller, Eurosceptic parties. The alliance follows ANO's victory in the October general election. The new government's policy statement asserts that the EU has "its limits." It declares that the bloc has no right to impose decisions that infringe on member states' sovereignty. Babis resumes leadership while facing an ongoing fraud trial in Prague. He denies any wrongdoing related to EU subsidy funds. His political agenda and legal challenges are being closely watched by both European allies and international observers.