Populist Andrej Babis Wins Czech Election but Faces Uphill Battle to Form Government

Billionaire Andrej Babis and his ANO movement have scored a resounding victory in the Czech Republic’s parliamentary elections. but fell short of an outright majority, setting the stage for a tense round of coalition talks that could reshape the country’s political future.

With more than 97 percent of votes counted, ANO captured 35 percent of the vote, well ahead of Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s centre-right Spolu (Together) alliance, which trailed at 23 percent, according to the Czech Statistical Office.

Fiala conceded defeat on Saturday night, congratulating Babis and signalling the end of his government’s tenure.

Voter turnout highest in decades

Turnout reached 68 percent, the highest since 1998, as more than 4,400 candidates across 26 parties competed for the 200-seat lower house.

President Petr Pavel, who holds the constitutional power to appoint the next prime minister, is expected to begin coalition consultations on Sunday once the official tally is confirmed. Officials warned that the rollout of mail-in ballots could delay the final announcement.

Coalition arithmetic and far-right prospects

Despite his commanding lead, Babis will need allies to govern. Early indicators suggest ANO may seek cooperation with the Motorists Party, known for opposing EU green regulations, and the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), which campaigns against both NATO and the EU.

SPD deputy leader Radim Fiala told Czech television that his party is ready to “help topple the government” and would even support a minority ANO cabinet.

Still, such a coalition would likely alarm both Brussels and moderate voters, given SPD’s Eurosceptic stance and history of inflammatory rhetoric.

Babis: from centrist technocrat to right-wing populist

Once seen as a pragmatic centrist who favoured adopting the euro, Babis has undergone a sharp transformation since losing power in 2021.
He now positions himself as a nationalist outsider, distributing “Strong Czechia” baseball caps modelled on Donald Trump’s MAGA slogan, embracing a harder line on migration, and aligning closely with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán.

Europe watches Prague

The election result cements Babis as one of Central Europe’s most influential populists, a figure who blends business acumen, media dominance, and nationalist messaging in the style of Trump and Orbán.