ANO Party of Andrej Babiš is the election winner
Andrej Babiš’s ANO party emerged as the clear winner of the Czech parliamentary elections, gaining close to 37 percent of the vote. The Spolu coalition finished a distant second, followed by the Mayors and Independents. High turnout highlighted public interest, but negotiations to form a stable government are set to be difficult.
ANO party emerges as clear winner
Czech voters handed victory to Andrej Babiš’s ANO party in the parliamentary elections, marking a strong comeback after its narrow defeat in 2021. With nearly all districts counted, ANO secured just under 37 percent of the vote, placing it well ahead of the Together (Spolu) coalition of Civic Democrats, Christian Democrats, and TOP 09, which finished with around 22 percent. The Mayors and Independents (STAN) came third with 11 percent.
The opposition Freedom and Direct Democracy party (SPD) gained about 8 percent, the Pirates just under 8 percent, and the new Motorists movement nearly 7 percent. The left-leaning Enough! (Stačilo!) movement failed to pass the five-percent threshold, leaving parliament without representation of the former Communist and Social Democratic forces for the second consecutive time.
Turnout reached 68.9 percent, the third-highest since 1996. President Petr Pavel welcomed the level of participation, congratulated the winners, and emphasized that voters had reaffirmed Czechia’s pro-Western orientation.
Babiš claims historic success
Speaking at his party’s headquarters, ANO leader Andrej Babiš described the result as a “historic success” and thanked citizens for their support. He said he had hoped to reach 30 percent, as indicated by polls, but was surprised by the final outcome.
Babiš announced that ANO would seek to form a one-party government but was ready to negotiate with other parties, notably SPD and the Motorists. “We are a united team,” he declared, adding that his cabinet would report to the public every six months on its work.
He also confirmed plans to meet President Pavel soon, promising to address his long-standing conflict-of-interest case concerning the Agrofert holding “in full compliance with Czech and European law.”
Together (Spolu) concedes, others set their course
Outgoing prime minister Petr Fiala of the Civic Democrats, leader of the Spolu coalition, conceded defeat and congratulated ANO. He ruled out forming a government on the basis of the current coalition and acknowledged that the outcome left little room for maneuver.
Other parties reacted quickly. Prague mayor Zdeněk Hřib, speaking for the Pirates, said his party had achieved its main objective of surpassing SPD and would form a strong parliamentary group. Deputy ANO chairman Karel Havlíček mentioned possible cooperation with the Motorists, stressing shared priorities in the European Parliament. However, he rejected coalitions with Spolu, STAN, or the Pirates, and insisted that EU and NATO membership remained non-negotiable.
Economist and Václav Havel Library director Tomáš Sedláček floated a different scenario: an ANO–Spolu alliance without Babiš as prime minister. While both sides dismissed such an idea before the vote, he noted that post-election reality might change calculations.
Challenges for forming a government
Despite ANO’s decisive victory, forming a majority government will not be straightforward. Together with SPD and the Motorists, ANO would control only about 116 seats, short of the 120 required for constitutional changes. In the Senate, where ANO has only 14 of 81 seats, the party and its allies hold virtually no leverage.
This arithmetic leaves Babiš with limited options. A minority government relying on support from other parties is possible, but negotiations will be difficult given the deep divisions that characterized the campaign. President Pavel is expected to play a key role in steering consultations toward a workable solution.
Voter turnout and new procedures
The high turnout was one of the striking features of this election. In Prague, participation reached 60 percent, with additional local referenda boosting interest. Central Bohemia also reported high numbers, with some towns approaching record levels.
For the first time, voters were able to use digital IDs (eDoklady) to identify themselves at polling stations. While heavy demand on Friday caused delays, the system stabilized on Saturday. Officials nevertheless recommended bringing traditional identity documents to avoid complications.
Abroad, roughly 11,000 Czechs used newly introduced postal voting. Reports from embassies noted unexpectedly high participation, including long queues in Brussels despite rain. Results from postal ballots are expected to be processed later.
Looking ahead
Experts caution that the next government will face formidable challenges, regardless of its composition. Infrastructure investment and modernization of transport networks remain urgent priorities. According to specialists, unfinished highway projects such as the D35 and the Prague ring road, as well as rail modernization, must be addressed.
Public transport improvements are also necessary to shift more people from cars to buses and trains. Economists highlight the need for long-term planning, warning that past governments focused on new construction without adequate maintenance.
For Andrej Babiš and ANO, the immediate challenge will be to translate electoral victory into effective governance. Whether through alliances, minority rule, or unexpected compromises, the coming weeks will determine the country’s political trajectory for the next four years.
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