USA TODAY International Edition
Trump-like leaders are on the rise
Around the world, firebrand politicians make their marks
Call them the political offspring of President Trump if you like: wealthy, controversial, outspoken and skilled at delivering electoral upsets and victories by appealing to voters’ nativist instincts on immigration, Islam, trade, jobs and law and order.
In at least two cases, the Philippines and Czech Republic, Trump’s influence has spawned elected leaders made in his own image. Several other leaders or would-be leaders resemble the U.S. president in at least some ways.
Here’s a look at the international Trump effect:
ANDREJ BABIS 63, CZECH REPUBLIC
This entrepreneur and billionaire is set to become the Czech Republic’s next prime minister after his ANO party won more than three times the number of votes as the conservative ODS party, which came in second, in Saturday’s national election. Andrej Babis, the Czech Republic’s newly elected prime minister, is a businessman and billionaire.
Babis has a sprawling business empire. It includes vast holdings in agriculture and forestry, chemicals, real estate and newspapers. He has vowed to use his business acumen to cut government red tape and fight corruption, although he is the subject of an investigation into a possible tax crime and conflict of interest.
RODRIGO DUTERTE 72, THE PHILIPPINES
Elected president in June, Duterte is known for his inflammatory rhetoric and tough stance against drug users and dealers. He has compared himself to
Adolf Hitler, called the pope a “son of a whore” and said he would have no problem murdering thousands of drug addicts.
Duterte won national office on an anti-crime and anti-corruption platform. He’s rich, although the source of his wealth remains a mystery.
WHO ELSE IS WALKING AND TALKING LIKE TRUMP?
Bulgaria’s Veselin Mareshki, 50, is a businessman who founded the anti-immigration Volya party. He owns a nationwide drug store chain.
Geert Wilders, 54, is leader of the far right in the Netherlands. Long before Trump sought to ban U.S. travel by citizens of several Muslim countries, Wilders called for a ban on Muslim immigration.
Boris Johnson, 53, is Britain’s foreign minister — and possibly future prime minister. He has a shock of blond hair, and he was born in New York. A former journalist, he can’t hide his obsession with media coverage.
Jacinda Ardern, 37, is New Zealand’s new prime minister. She opposes tax cuts and supports the welfare state, unlike Trump. However, she wants to lower immigration to New Zealand. That prompted The Wall Street Journal to tweet last month: “Meet New Zealand’s Justin Trudeau (prime minister of Canada) — except she’s more like Trump on immigration.”