Democracy Digest: Ballot Box Bromance

The local press was full of complaints over the tightly controlled event, which Orban stressed had definitely no connection to the upcoming election in Czechia but was merely a standard state visit. Naturally, then, the two premiers refused to take questions, but treated the few journalists admitted to an hour-long chat. All the important issues of the day were covered: Babis's successes in leading Czechia; Orban's successes in leading Hungary; their joint successes in dealing with the EU.

Babis was praised for his fight for Czech interests; Orban for being a "great man" and for his ambition to form a Visegrad Four football championship. Migration, the EU's climate change push and Ivan Bartos - the dreadlocked leader of the opposition PirStan coalition - were all roundly condemned.

Bartos had his own Hungarian meeting this week, with Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony, who hopes to be selected by his country's united opposition to run against Orban in next year's parliamentary election (see more below).

In perhaps the least shocking revelation of the entire Czech election, Karacsony warned Bartos that the Czech democratic opposition - which is experimenting with a mild form of unity in this election - must at all costs stop Babis from taking Czechia in Orban's direction.

An exterior view of the nuclear power plant Dukovany, near Trebic, Czech Republic, 29 November 2019. EPA-EFE/CHRISTIAN BRUNA Zeman's dream ticket; Lex Dukovany

While the Czech prime minister is delighted to get support from abroad, he's not quite so sure about what's on offer at home.

According to President Milos Zeman, who fancies he can manipulate the billionaire, Babis will be tasked with forming the next government come what may. But...