In a significant political shift, billionaire Andrej Babiš has emerged victorious in the Czech Republic’s parliamentary election, marking a historic comeback for the populist leader. According to nearly complete results released on Saturday, Babiš’ ANO (YES) movement secured 34.7% of the vote, decisively outperforming Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s Together conservative coalition, which garnered 23.2%. This outcome could potentially steer the Czech Republic away from its staunch support for Ukraine and align it more closely with Hungary and Slovakia, both of which have adopted pro-Russian stances. Babiš, jubilant over his best electoral result, described the victory as historic for himself and his ‘catch-all’ political group, which has been a dominant force in national politics since 2013. He pledged to make the Czech Republic the best place to live in the European Union, vowing to take all necessary steps to achieve this goal. The election results position Babiš alongside other Central European populist leaders such as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Slovakia’s Robert Fico, both of whom have opposed military aid to Ukraine, continued to import Russian oil, and resisted EU sanctions on Russia. The Czech Republic has been a key supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, providing arms and backing initiatives to supply artillery shells. However, Babiš has expressed disapproval of these efforts, stating that his party holds a different view. The opposition, led by Babiš, has blamed Fiala for recent challenges, including the energy crisis and soaring inflation, and has promised to revoke pension reforms and reduce support for Ukraine. Fiala conceded defeat, acknowledging the clear result and the need to accept it. The election, which filled 200 seats in the lower house of the Czech parliament, saw Babiš’ ANO movement win 80 seats, while the Freedom and Direct Democracy party secured 15 and the Motorists party 13. Babiš aims to form a one-party government but will likely need the tacit support of the Freedom party and the Motorists to secure a parliamentary confidence vote. The election outcome represents a setback for a coalition of far-left fringe parties, including the pro-Russian Communists, who failed to win any seats. President Petr Pavel is scheduled to meet with Babiš and other party leaders on Sunday to discuss the formation of a new government.
Populist billionaire Andrej Babiš wins Czech parliamentary election, official results show
