In a closely watched parliamentary election, Czech billionaire Andrej Babiš’s populist ANO party has emerged victorious. While the results indicate a win for Babiš’s movement, preliminary figures show they have fallen just short of an overall majority, suggesting coalition talks will be crucial in forming the next government.
ANO secured just under 35% of the vote, translating to 80 seats in the 200-seat chamber – a slight increase from their previous performance. Babiš, who previously served as Prime Minister from 2017 to 2021, is widely expected to be tasked with forming a new governing coalition.
Addressing jubilant supporters at ANO’s headquarters in Prague, Babiš declared it a “historic success” and vowed to work towards making the Czech Republic “the best place to live in the European Union.” His victory, though anticipated by many, leaves open questions about the future political landscape and potential alliances.
Babiš has already initiated discussions with smaller parties that crossed the electoral threshold, including the eurosceptic Motorists for Themselves and the anti-immigrant Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party. Forming a stable coalition will likely require careful negotiation, particularly given Babiš’s stance on issues like EU and NATO membership, which differ from some of his potential partners.
The election campaign saw Babiš take a strong stance against Ukrainian refugees, but his administration is expected to significantly alter the country’s military support for Ukraine. His government has indicated a potential scaling back of initiatives like the Czech ammunition program, which has supplied millions of shells to Ukraine.
Babiš has dismissed concerns from Western allies about the Czech Republic’s reliability as a partner, asserting that his previous tenure in government demonstrated strong alliances and positive results.