ANO and SPD to field rival senate candidates despite earlier cooperation talks

ANO has unveiled candidates for nearly all Senate constituencies where elections will be held this year, while its coalition partner Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) is expected to do the same. Although the leaders of the governing parties had until recently spoken of cooperating in the autumn vote, the plans have been abandoned and the two parties will now compete against each other.

According to the Novinky news website, ANO has distanced itself from its smaller coalition partner. ANO deputy leader and Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček defended the move, saying the party was simply making use of its position as the Czech Republic's strongest political force and was confident in putting forward its own candidates.

Meanwhile, the Motorists' party has decided to largely forgo Senate ambitions and instead focus on this year's municipal elections.