Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš was briefly hospitalized after being attacked on the campaign trail Monday.
Babiš, who is leading in the polls ahead of an October parliamentary election, was hit over the head and in the back with a crutch at a campaign rally in Dobrá, in the east of Czechia. Babiš was taken to hospital for X-rays and discharged shortly afterward.
“Thank you all for your support, I hope I’ll be fine. Tomorrow I’ll still be waiting for further evaluation of the test results, but the doctors have recommended rest, so unfortunately I’ll have to cancel at least tomorrow’s program in the Olomouc region. I sincerely apologize to everyone who wanted to meet me,” Babiš, leader of the right-wing populist ANO party, wrote in a post on X on Monday evening.
Police made an arrest and classified the act as “disorderly conduct.”
The attack was condemned by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who said that “violence doesn’t belong in politics.”
“I truly call on everyone: let’s listen to one another, let’s talk together, let’s look for the right solution. But let’s put violence and aggression aside. A society that acts this way is a dangerous one,” Fiala said.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán called the attack the result of the political demonization of Babiš by his adversaries.
“After Slovakia, violence has seeped into Czech politics as well. No wonder. His political adversaries have demonised @AndrejBabis for years. This is the result. But they will not stop him. He will go on and win the elections! Get well soon, my friend!” Orbán wrote on X.
ANO’s vice chair, Alena Schillerová, blamed the attack on the current government.
“The hatred spread by government parties on billboards and social networks has today culminated in an attack on Andrej Babiš. It is a direct consequence of their campaign based on fear and division,” Schillerová said in a post on X.
The attack echoes last year’s attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who suffered serious injuries after being shot as he left a government meeting.
Babiš — who was Czech prime minister between 2017 and 2021 — is on track to regain power as his ANO party is leading in the polls with 31 percent, while the ruling Spolu (Together) coalition lags behind on 21 percent.
An ANO spokesperson did not immediately respond with a comment.