(Bloomberg) Czech billionaire Andrej Babis won parliamentary approval for a minority government, strengthening the group of European Union members who are challenging the bloc’s unity.
As populist forces from Italy to Sweden shake the EU’s foundations and Brexit talks languish far from resolution, Babis has emerged as one of the strongest voices in the post-communist wing clashing with Germany over refugees. Along with like-minded allies in Poland and Hungary, who are themselves embroiled in battles over democratic values, the Czech premier rejects integrating further with the union and refuses to move closer to adopting its common currency.
The cabinet received confirmation from lawmakers in a confidence vote on early on Thursday, backed by Babis’s popular ANO party and its coalition partner, the Social Democrats. They also secured votes from the Communists, who aren’t in their government.
