(Prague, Czech Republic, 5th) Former Czech Prime Minister and billionaire Andrej Babiš’s opposition party 'Action of Dissatisfied Citizens' (ANO) won the House of Representatives election held on Saturday (October 4), with a vote share close to 35%, and is expected to once again become the core force in government formation.
According to reports from Reuters and Xinhua News Agency, election result tallies show that ANO won 80 seats; the former ruling center-right coalition 'Together' (Spolu) received about 23% of the votes, gaining 52 seats. Four other parties surpassed the 5% threshold to enter the new House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives has a total of 200 seats. Under current rules, ANO did not win an outright majority and must cooperate with other parties or alliances to form a coalition government.
At a press conference on Saturday night, Babiš (Andrej Babis) said ANO would strive to form a single-party cabinet, but would also negotiate with smaller parties, including the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy Party (SPD) and the anti-EU 'Motorists for Themselves', seeking their support.
He reiterated his denial of concerns that he might undermine the Czech Republic’s commitments to the EU and NATO, asserting, “We want to save Europe... we are clearly pro-European, pro-NATO.”
During the campaign, ANO made multiple economic promises, committing to accelerate economic growth, increase wages and pensions, reduce taxes, and provide tax breaks for students and young families. These pledges were highly attractive to voters facing rising prices and declining real incomes, but would also entail expenditures of several billion euros and challenge the country’s longstanding tradition of fiscal restraint.
However, Babiš still faces several obstacles on his return to the post of prime minister. Outside concerns focus on his potential conflict of interest as owner of chemical and food businesses, as well as longstanding fraud allegations related to EU subsidy applications 15 years ago, both of which Babiš has denied. In addition, to govern, he must gain enough support from parliamentary coalition talks to pass a parliamentary confidence vote.
Some European media noted that if Babiš succeeds in forming a government, the new administration may make adjustments in domestic and foreign policy, focusing more on domestic livelihood issues and diverging from EU mainstream on issues such as immigration and climate policy. In addition, the scale of Czech military aid to Ukraine may be reduced, with ANO preferring to have such aid handled by EU and NATO institutions.
After the election, incumbent Prime Minister and Spolu coalition leader Petr Fiala congratulated Babiš and conceded defeat. The defeated 'Together' coalition will discuss its future direction internally. According to election procedures, the next steps will enter the government formation negotiations and coalition-building stage.
This general election saw more than 4,400 candidates nominated by 26 parties and alliances compete for office, with voting lasting two days and ending on the afternoon of the 4th. Official statistics show a voter turnout as high as 68.9%, an increase from the previous election; this was also the first time overseas Czech citizens were allowed to vote by mail.
According to reports from Reuters and Xinhua News Agency, election result tallies show that ANO won 80 seats; the former ruling center-right coalition 'Together' (Spolu) received about 23% of the votes, gaining 52 seats. Four other parties surpassed the 5% threshold to enter the new House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives has a total of 200 seats. Under current rules, ANO did not win an outright majority and must cooperate with other parties or alliances to form a coalition government.
At a press conference on Saturday night, Babiš (Andrej Babis) said ANO would strive to form a single-party cabinet, but would also negotiate with smaller parties, including the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy Party (SPD) and the anti-EU 'Motorists for Themselves', seeking their support.
He reiterated his denial of concerns that he might undermine the Czech Republic’s commitments to the EU and NATO, asserting, “We want to save Europe... we are clearly pro-European, pro-NATO.”
During the campaign, ANO made multiple economic promises, committing to accelerate economic growth, increase wages and pensions, reduce taxes, and provide tax breaks for students and young families. These pledges were highly attractive to voters facing rising prices and declining real incomes, but would also entail expenditures of several billion euros and challenge the country’s longstanding tradition of fiscal restraint.
However, Babiš still faces several obstacles on his return to the post of prime minister. Outside concerns focus on his potential conflict of interest as owner of chemical and food businesses, as well as longstanding fraud allegations related to EU subsidy applications 15 years ago, both of which Babiš has denied. In addition, to govern, he must gain enough support from parliamentary coalition talks to pass a parliamentary confidence vote.
Some European media noted that if Babiš succeeds in forming a government, the new administration may make adjustments in domestic and foreign policy, focusing more on domestic livelihood issues and diverging from EU mainstream on issues such as immigration and climate policy. In addition, the scale of Czech military aid to Ukraine may be reduced, with ANO preferring to have such aid handled by EU and NATO institutions.
After the election, incumbent Prime Minister and Spolu coalition leader Petr Fiala congratulated Babiš and conceded defeat. The defeated 'Together' coalition will discuss its future direction internally. According to election procedures, the next steps will enter the government formation negotiations and coalition-building stage.
This general election saw more than 4,400 candidates nominated by 26 parties and alliances compete for office, with voting lasting two days and ending on the afternoon of the 4th. Official statistics show a voter turnout as high as 68.9%, an increase from the previous election; this was also the first time overseas Czech citizens were allowed to vote by mail.