PRAGUE (AP) — Czech voters began casting ballots Friday in a two-day general election that could steer the country away from supporting Ukraine and toward Hungary and Slovakia, threatening to further divide the European Union and NATO.

Billionaire Andrej Babiš is predicted to be the latest populist leader in Central Europe to stage a political comeback. Opinion polls put the former prime minister on course for victory over a pro-Western coalition led by Petr Fiala that defeated him in the 2021 ballot.

His victory would be a boost for Viktor Orbán of Hungary and Robert Fico of Slovakia, whose countries have refused to provide military aid to Ukraine, continue to import Russian oil and oppose sanctions on Russia.

Fiala has warned against a victory for Babiš as Russia continues its full-sc

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