Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis was hospitalized Monday after a physical assault at a campaign rally in the eastern town of Dobra. The incident occurred as the country prepares for parliamentary elections scheduled for October 3–4.
Police confirmed that a man armed with a walking stick struck Babis and was immediately detained. Authorities are treating the case as “hooliganism,” a criminal offense in the Czech Republic. It remains unclear if Babis sustained any injuries from the attack. He was transported to a nearby hospital in Frydek-Mistek for evaluation, according to his ANO (YES) party.
Babis, a populist leader and founder of the centrist ANO movement, served as prime minister from 2017 until 2021. Despite losing his bid for reelection in 2021 and later losing the 2023 presidential race to General Petr Pavel, his party remains a strong contender in the upcoming elections. Polls indicate ANO could potentially reclaim power from the current center-right coalition government.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Interior Minister Vit Rakusan condemned the assault and called it unacceptable behavior in a democratic society. Both stressed the importance of maintaining civil discourse during election campaigns.
The ANO party has drawn support for its opposition to mass migration, criticism of European Union overreach, and focus on national sovereignty. Babis has consistently appealed to Czech voters with his anti-establishment rhetoric and promises of economic stability.
The motive behind the attack has not been publicly disclosed, and the suspect’s identity remains unknown. The investigation is ongoing, with heightened security expected at future campaign events leading up to the October vote.
