Czech Tycoon Dealt Shock Election Loss but May Try to Keep Power
- Babis finishes second in election after leading opinion polls
- President may still give Babis first shot at forming cabinet
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Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis suffered a surprise, razor-thin defeat in general elections, setting the stage for protracted political wrangling over forming a new government that may eventually force the scandal-plagued billionaire from power.
The result will pit Babis and President Milos Zeman, who has vowed to give his ally the first chance to create a new government, against two political groups that slammed the premier’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, a string of legal scandals, and revelations of offshore deals in the Pandora Papers.