Andrej Babis deploys a sense of victimhood as a political tool to win our sympathy. Like Vladimir Putin.


Victim in need of sympathy

For months now, the most powerful politician in the land has been the innocent victim of malicious personal attacks. Or so he says. Andrej Babis was not an agent of the Communist secret police but rather its victim. Apparently, his name was added to various StB lists by lazy, corrupt spies trying to impress their bosses at the time. Babis himself knew nothing whatsoever about it and had nothing whatsoever to do with such disreputable characters, at least according to the testimony of three such characters upon which this week's Slovak court decision is based. See this excellent commentary by Tomas Pergler on echo24 on the absurdity of the court's judgement.

Neither did Babis order customs officials (who fall under the authority of his ministry) to harass the troublesome owner of a restaurant in Pardubice who is publicly boycotting Agrofert products in favour of 'honest suppliers'. Rather, Babis himself is the victim of those wishing 'to create the impression that I am abusing my position'.

Nor did Babis instruct Agrofert's heavies to spray weed killer over 300 hectares of crops belonging to Bohumil Rada, a farmer with whom the firm has been in legal dispute since 2011. Rather, it is Babis who is being poisonously slandered by a disgruntled business partner who is 'a liar and a crook'.

And so it goes on. Andrej Babis loves to adopt the stance of victim. In this way, he can put all the blame on others, claiming moral superiority while at the same time disclaiming any responsibility for his behaviour and its consequences. Do not blame poor Andrej if he becomes abusive or aggressive. Be sympathetic! He is acting in his own defence.

Like Vladimir Putin. He too has adopted the stance of a victim, for himself and for all Russians. Do not blame him if he becomes violent. He is acting in self-defence.