In a noteworthy electoral outcome, billionaire businessman Andrej Babis's ANO party has clinched victory in the Czech Republic's parliamentary elections, although it has fallen short of securing an overall majority, according to preliminary results.
With nearly 35% of the votes, ANO has gained 81 seats in the 200-seat lower house. Babis, who previously served as prime minister from 2017 to 2021, is poised to lead negotiations in forming a new coalition government.
The election results align closely with predictions, suggesting that the current centre-right coalition government was unlikely to maintain its hold as many were doubtful Babis could govern alone without a significant alliance.
As Babis begins talks, he is anticipated to engage with two smaller right-wing eurosceptic parties that surpassed the 5% threshold: Motorists for Themselves and the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, which advocates against excessive immigration.
To form a stable majority government, Babis will likely need to forge an alliance with both parties. The Motorists party shares ANO's skepticism towards EU emissions targets and commitments to green energy, while relations with the SPD may be more contentious due to differences in party policies, especially regarding EU and NATO memberships.
Despite these challenges, Babis's campaign included strong criticism of the incumbent government’s foreign policy, particularly in relation to Ukrainian refugees, and as he navigates coalition dynamics, he may consider ruling as a minority with support from the Motorists and SPD.
