The outlook for the future is not optimistic, but Czechs have overcome worse, said Prime Minister Andrej Babiš in a speech on today’s national holiday. According to him, in the darkest times, the nation has always stuck together. He hopes that the new government will fight for Czech interests. He again urged people to get vaccinated. He also thanked them for his trust when he was prime minister.
Babiš delivered his speech on the day when the president usually speaks at state awards ceremonies at Prague Castle. This year, the ceremony will not take place due to the hospitalization of Miloš Zeman. According to Babiš, people should wish the president a speedy recovery. “This is exactly the moment when we should tame our possible antipathies and when politics should step aside,” he said.
He noted that the pandemic and the post-election situation have exacerbated the atmosphere in society and that developments at home and abroad are not helping it either. He mentioned rising energy prices, the poor situation in the car industry and rising prices. “From the headlines, it seems that one disaster after another is rushing at us. Maybe we’ve been a little sick. And maybe it’s not just a disease of the body, but a disease of the soul,” he said. “Yes, the outlook is not exactly optimistic, but our republic and our nation have managed to cope with much worse periods,” he added.
He said that the Czech nation had always united when it felt threatened by the future and its children. “It is true that in the coming years we will have to rely much more on ourselves, but if I am fundamentally convinced of anything, it is that we are an incredibly tenacious, resourceful and cordial nation. So I am not afraid that we will not be able to cope. with everything to come, “he said.
Babiš hopes that the new government will “continue to fight for Czech interests and raise the living standards of our citizens”. According to him, the starting position of the Czech Republic is good because it is one of the least indebted countries in the European Union and because it strongly defends national interests in the EU. “Therefore, fear is out of place. I firmly believe that even the new cabinet will not give our country and our citizens,” he said. He also wanted politicians to see themselves as rivals, but not as enemies, and for people to start listening to other opinions and not throwing them away. “And for our society to start coming to terms with, if I may say so, the disease of the soul that afflicts it,” he added.
He challenged everyone again to go vaccinated. He described the vaccination as the only tool against coronavirus. “For the peace of our children, our loved ones, our families, our friends and for the peace of our whole country, let us be vaccinated. May our Christmas be happy and merry,” he said.
At the end of his speech, Babiš thanked Czechs for their trust and for the four years after which he could be prime minister.