Former Czech PM Babiš Slams EU Migration Pact as 'Assisted Suicide of Europe'

Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš delivered a scathing speech in the Czech parliament on Monday, criticizing the European Union's migration pact and warning that it will lead to the "assisted suicide of Europe and its culture." Babiš, who leads the opposition ANO party, claimed that the pact will force the Czech Republic to accept thousands of migrants from the Middle East and Africa, which he described as a "cancer" that has already destroyed Western Europe and is now threatening Central and Eastern Europe.

In his passionate address, Babiš argued that the pact contains "hidden refugee quotas" that would compel the Czech Republic to take in migrants against its will. He accused the current Czech government, led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, of "trading our security, culture and way of life for uncontrolled migration, an explosion of crime and the disintegration of our society." The former Czech minister calls the rejection of migrants from a "completely different cultural environment" not a lack of solidarity but an "instinct for self-preservation."

Why this matters: The EU migration pact and its potential impact on member states remains a contentious issue, with far-reaching implications for European politics and society. The debate highlights the ongoing tensions between national sovereignty and EU-level decision-making in addressing the complex challenges of migration.

Babiš, who was sometimes called "the Czech Trump" during his tenure as prime minister, called on voters to back populist parties in the upcoming EU election to fight illegal migration and repeal the EU migration pact. Both his ANO party and the even more anti-migration Freedom and Direct Democracy party strongly oppose the EU's migration policies.

Interior Minister Vít Rakusan defended the pact, stating that it does not include mandatory relocations or quotas. However, Babiš accused the government of lying, asserting that the pact clearly indicates member states would be allocated migrants and fined for refusing them. He warned that it may be too late to save Western Europe, but the situation in the Czech Republic and other Central and Eastern European countries is still avoidable if they reject the "progressive open border welcomers" and elect leaders who will "fiercely defend our national interests and oppose illegal migration."

Key Takeaways

• Former Czech PM Babiš criticizes EU migration pact as "assisted suicide of Europe"
• Babiš claims pact will force Czech Republic to accept thousands of migrants
• Babiš calls on voters to back populist parties to fight illegal migration
• Interior Minister defends pact, says no mandatory relocations or quotas
• Debate highlights tensions between national sovereignty and EU-level decision-making