Babiš re-elected ANO leader, calls for joint presidential candidate in 2028

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has been re-elected leader of the ANO party at its congress in Prague. Babiš, who has headed the movement since its founding, ran unopposed and received backing from 196 of the 209 delegates.

Deputy Prime Minister Karel Havlíček also retained his position as first vice-chair. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová continues as one of ANO’s vice-chairs, alongside Radek Vondráček, Robert Králíček and Richard Brabec.

Speaking at the congress, Babiš said the governing coalition of ANO, the SPD and the Motorists party should nominate a joint candidate for the 2028 presidential election. He added that debate over a possible nominee should begin a year earlier, in 2027.

ANO won last year’s parliamentary elections by a wide margin and currently governs in coalition with the SPD and the Motorists party.