Babiš to skip 17 November events in Prague and visit Israel

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš will not take part in the celebrations of the 17 November state holiday and will shortly travel to Israel. He said so on Monday after a government meeting that discussed air defence.

Why Babiš will skip 17 November

Babiš said he regretted that this year he would not be able to come to Národní třída, where he usually goes every year. In his words, this may help calm the heated atmosphere. In past years, when the prime minister commemorated the events on Národní třída, he repeatedly faced displays of discontent, which is why he would visit the memorial early in the morning.

Ahead of this year’s celebrations, Babiš claimed that the opposition was trying to use them for protests over the intention of the ANO, SPD and Motoristé sobě cabinet to change the funding of public media. The Ministry of Culture decided this year not to support the celebrations financially, so the participants raised the money to hold them themselves.

The trip to Israel and Iron Dome

Babiš had said earlier that he wanted to discuss buying Iron Dome missile defence systems in Israel. On Monday he called it a priority: the Israeli system, he said, is successful, and it is needed in case something flies toward Czechia. The army’s recently approved concept does not provide for an anti-ballistic defence system, but, as noted, that does not bother Babiš.

The prime minister will be accompanied on the trip by Defence Minister Jaromír Zůna (SPD), Foreign Minister Petr Macinka and Minister of Sport, Prevention and Health Boris Šťastný (both Motoristé sobě), and Health Minister Adam Vojtěch (ANO). Chief of the General Staff Miroslav Hlaváč will also join the delegation.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz