Berlin, Sept 5 (CTK) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel received Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis with military honours during his visit to Berlin shortly after noon today, and their negotiations on issues such as the EU’s future, migration and bilateral relations started afterwards.
Some 30 to 40 people demonstrated against Babis, the billionaire leader of the ANO movement, near the Chancellor’s seat during the ceremonial welcome.
They chanted slogans such as “Babis is a liar and thief”, “Take Babis into custody” and “Babis poses a threat to Europe.” Some of them carried banners or Czech or EU flags.
Babis is paying his first official visit to Germany in his capacity as Czech prime minister (since December 2017), which is why the welcome took place with an honorary guard being present at the Czech and German anthems played.
Earlier today, Babis met representatives of think-tanks in Germany and laid a wreath at the Berlin Wall monument, at the place where the photographs of the victims of Berlin’s former division are displayed.
He also laid flowers at the monument site marking the Visegrad Four (V4) countries’ contribution to the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The V4 comprises the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.
Later today, Babis is to meet German Bundestag chairman Wolfgang Schauble.