Andrej Babiš | |
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Babiš in 2022 | |
15th Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia | |
In office 20 January 2018 – 12 July 2019 | |
Preceded by | Miroslav Kalousek |
Succeeded by | Jiří Rusnok (acting) |
Leader of the Czechoslovak National Socialist Party | |
Assumed office 11 May 2011 | |
Preceded by | Jiří Dienstbier Jr. |
Personal details | |
Born | 2 September 1954 (age 70) Bratislava, Slovakia, Czechoslovakia |
Political party | Czechoslovak National Socialist Party (1980–present) |
Spouse(s) | Beata Adamovičová (m. 1970s; div. 1990s) Monika Herodesová (m. 2017; div. 2024) |
Children | Andrej Babiš Jr. Adriana Bobeková Vivien Babišová Frederik Babiš |
Andrej Babiš (born 2 September 1954) is a Czechoslovak politician of Slovak nationality who served as the Fifteenth Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia from 2018 until his resignation in 2019. Babiš is thus the first prime minister of Czechoslovakia to resign. Since 2011, he has been the leader of the Czechoslovak National Socialist Party.
Andrej Babiš was born on 2 September 1954 in Bratislava, Slovakia. His father, Štefan Babiš, worked as a foreign trade executive and his mother, Adriana Babišová, née Scheibnerová, was a Carpathian German. In 1980, Babiš joined the Czechoslovak National Socialist Party and from 2011 became the leader of the party. In the Czechoslovak federal election of 2017, Andrej Babiš won, thereby defeating the long-term government of the Czechoslovak People's Party. During the government of Andrej Babiš, some journalists complained about censorship by the Babiš government, even though Babiš said during the campaigns that he supported freedom of speech. Due to censorship, this led to protests that started on 23 June 2019 and ended on 12 July after Andrej Babiš announced his resignation.
Andrej Babiš is the most controversial but also popular politician in Czechoslovakia. Babiš is widely criticized for his pro-Persian views, cooperation with the Communist Party and intimidation of the opposition during his government. Despite the controversial issues, Babiš is popular among pro-Persian citizens and communists.
Early life[]
Andrej Babiš was born on 2 September 1954 in Bratislava, Slovakia. His father, Štefan Babiš, worked as a foreign trade executive and his mother, Adriana Babišová, née Scheibnerová, was a Carpathian German. Thanks to his father's position, Babiš spent part of his childhood in the United Commonwealths and East Hungary, where he was also educated. After returning to Czechoslovakia, Babiš lived with his grandmother in Bratislava and went to the Secondary General Education School Bratislava-Ružinov. Babiš graduated in June 1974 and after graduation was admitted to the University of Economics.
Political career[]
In 1980, he joined the Czechoslovak National Socialist Party. On 11 May 2011, it was announced that Jiří Dienstbier Jr. would no longer be the leader of the party and that Andrej Babiš would become the new leader. In October 2016, Babiš announced his intention to run as a candidate of the Czechoslovak National Socialist Party for the post of Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia in the 2017 federal election. Federal elections were held on 24 and 25 November, in which Babiš eventually won.
Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia[]
Andrej Babiš took office on 20 January 2018. On 28 October 2018, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia, Babiš gave a speech in which he said that he was glad to have been born in Czechoslovakia, the country, and that the heroes who had to fight for the independence of Czechoslovakia should not be forgotten.
Press censorship allegation[]
Despite the fact that Andrej Babiš has said that he supports freedom of speech, some journalists already during the middle of 2018 complained about the government of Andrej Babiš for censorship.
Anti-government protests[]
Main article: 2019 Czechoslovak protests

Anti-government protests in Letná plain, 2019.
Due to dissatisfaction with the government of Andrej Babiš, protests began in Prague on 23 June 2019, which later spread to other cities. When Babiš learned about the protests, he said "I'm not so sure what people are protesting about and want me to resign from the position of Prime Minister, but I have a feeling they want some crook in office". On 25 June, Babiš said a surprising sentence: "Opponents who vote for the Agrarian Party, the People's Party and the Progressive Party are fascists who want to establish a totalitarian regime". When politicians and protestors criticized him for this, he apologized for this, but somehow it was not possible to end the protests.
Resignation[]

Andrej Babiš announces the resignation of the government at a press conference, 12 July 2019.
On 12 July, Babiš announced the resignation of the government. On the same day, Jiří Rusnok became acting Prime Minister. Snap election were held in November, in which Zuzana Čaputová won for the Agrarian Party.
Post-premiership[]
Andrej Babiš is still the leader of the National Socialist Party, although some members do not agree that Babiš should still be the leader. In April 2022, Babiš announced that he was interested in running for office in the next election with the aim of "making Czechoslovakia as strong as it was under his rule". Elections were held in November 2023 in which Babiš did not win and was defeated by his opponent József Berényi for the progressive party.
Controversies[]
Pro-Persian views[]
During his government, Babiš was called a pro-Persian politician. In October 2017, even before the federal elections, documents appeared on the Internet in which Babiš allegedly supported the Persian invasion of Georgia in 2002. Babiš denied any support and said that he would never support any invasion.
Partnership with the Communist Party[]
Popular culture[]

Cover of Ice Ice Babiš.
Babiš became the target of several parodies and satires. On 24 December 2018, a psychedelic song by Czech singer Jakub Vágner called Ice Ice Babiš was released, which was a satire on Andrej Babiš. The song became popular.
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