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Babiš announced that ANO would seek to form a one-party government and start talks with the Freedom and Direct Democracy party (SPD) and the Motorists. “We will not govern with the five-party coalition. I’m surprised they received so many votes,” he said, adding that he looked forward to meeting President Petr Pavel. He also stated that he had promised the president to present a solution to his conflict-of-interest issue “in full compliance with Czech and European law.” Deputy chairman Karel Havlíček said ANO could imagine post-election cooperation with the Motorists but ruled out any coalition with the current government parties or the Pirates. He did not speculate about possible support from SPD, emphasizing that ANO’s “red lines” include Czechia’s firm membership in the EU and NATO. Outgoing prime minister and leader of the Spolu coalition, Petr Fiala of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), congratulated ANO on its victory but said forming a new government based on the current coalition framework would not be possible.

Economist and director of the Václav Havel Library, Tomáš Sedláček, said that a reasonable government could be formed by the winning ANO party together with the Spolu (Together) coalition—but without ANO leader Andrej Babiš. He noted that although Babiš and Prime Minister Petr Fiala of the Civic Democrats (ODS) ruled out such cooperation before the election, post-election reality might differ. Sedláček told the Czech News Agency that if President Petr Pavel tasks Babiš with forming a government, he will not succeed on his own and may then turn to Spolu. “If they agree that the former prime minister will not be the head of government, it could be a relatively sensible coalition,” he said. He praised the high voter turnout and expressed satisfaction that, in his words, “extremist parties trying to plough up Havel’s legacy ended where they belong—at the bottom.” Sedláček also pointed out that Spolu, the Mayors and Independents (STAN), and the Pirates together received more votes than ANO.

With 95 percent of votes counted, the opposition ANO party led by former prime minister Andrej Babiš won the Czech parliamentary elections with 35.5 percent. The coalition Spolu (Together) followed with 22.7 percent, and Mayors and Independents (STAN) finished third with 11 percent. Pirates gained 8.6 percent, Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) 7.9 percent, and Motorists 6.8 percent. Voter turnout reached almost 69 percent. It is ANO’s second parliamentary victory after 2017. Four years ago, it narrowly came second behind Spolu. Babiš, arriving at his party’s headquarters in Prague, said he was “happy,” playing an old Italian hit through a portable speaker. Deputy chairman Karel Havlíček said ANO party could imagine post-election cooperation with Motorists but ruled out any coalition with current government parties or the Pirates. He did not speculate about possible support from SPD, emphasizing that ANO’s “red lines” include Czechia’s firm membership in the EU and NATO.

With about three-quarters of districts counted, Andrej Babiš’s ANO party led the Czech parliamentary elections with 36.9 percent of the vote, followed by the Spolu coalition (Civic Democratic Party, TOP 09, and Christian Democrats) with 21.6 percent and the Mayors and Independents (STAN) with 11 percent. The Freedom and Direct Democracy Party (SPD) had 8.1 percent, the Pirates 7.9 percent, and Motorists Themselves 6.9 percent. The Enough! movement (Stačilo!) remained below the five-percent threshold with 4.6 percent.