Czechs endured inflation surges after the global pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and have had a slow recovery from one of Europe’s worst drops in real incomes. That is lingering in voters’ minds and hurts the popularity of Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s Spolu coalition and its liberal government allies who focused on lowering the budget deficit. Babis pledges to end the ammunition project, saying it is overpriced and he wants NATO and the EU to handle Ukraine. Our programme is for a better life for Czech citizens… We are not in Ukraine,” Babis, 71, said in a Wednesday debate on CNN Prima News television. “Under Babis’ previous government, I was better off.”Babis must also overcome other hurdles to become prime minister.