Billionaire Andrej Babis’s ANO party leads Czech elections
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Babis describes himself as a "Trumpist" and expresses a preference for a single-party government.
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Chairman of opposition "ANO" (YES) movement Andrej Babis arrives at his election headquarters during the parliamentary elections in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Oct 4, 2025 (AP)
The party of billionaire and former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has taken the lead in the country's parliamentary elections, according to near-final official results published on Saturday.
With 97% of ballots counted, Babis’s ANO ("Action of Dissatisfied Citizens," also means Yes) movement secured 35.2% of the vote, positioning him for a potential return to power.
The result signals a shift in the Czech Republic's political direction, as Babis's populist platform emphasized increased welfare and an end to military aid for Ukraine. His success marks a setback for the Together coalition, led by outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala, which trailed with 22.9%. The coalition’s partner, STAN, followed with 11.1%.
In total, six parties appear poised to enter the new parliament of the EU and NATO member state.
Possible political realignment in Prague
Prime Minister Petr Fiala's administration has maintained a firm pro-Ukraine stance since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, providing both humanitarian and military assistance.
However, Babis's comeback could bring Prague closer to Hungary and Slovakia, whose leaders have resisted sending weapons to Ukraine and have opposed broad sanctions on Russia.
Within the European Parliament, Babis's ANO belongs to the far-right Patriots for Europe bloc, which he co-founded alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Coalition talks, political uncertainty
At 71, Babis has described himself as a "Trumpist" and expressed a preference for a single-party government. Yet, the election outcome suggests he will require coalition partners to govern effectively.
Potential allies include the Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, which gained 7.9%, and the Motorists movement, a non-parliamentary right-wing group with 6.8% of the vote.
The Pirate Party, which left Fiala’s coalition in 2024, garnered 8.7%, maintaining its relevance as a potential opposition force.
‘Czechs First,’ EU skepticism
The SPD continues to push for a referendum on Czech withdrawal from the European Union, though Babis has publicly dismissed such a move. Political analyst Otto Eibl from Masaryk University in Brno told AFP that the most likely scenario could be an ANO-Motorists minority government with SPD support.
Under the Czech constitution, President Petr Pavel will formally designate the next prime minister. Pavel is set to begin consultations with party leaders on Sunday. Earlier this week, he met with Babis to address concerns about the billionaire’s ongoing conflict of interest and his trial over alleged EU subsidy fraud worth more than $2 million.
Born during communist-era Czechoslovakia, Babis made his fortune through Agrofert, an agricultural and chemical empire comprising hundreds of companies worldwide. With an estimated net worth exceeding $3 billion, he entered politics in 2011 as an anti-corruption campaigner and later served as finance minister before leading the government between 2017 and 2021.
Presenting himself as a "peacemonger", Babis has vowed to pursue a "Czechs first" approach, calling for a truce in Ukraine and advocating for domestic stability over foreign commitments.
During his tenure as prime minister, Babis maintained a skeptical stance toward several EU policies while cultivating close relations with Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, both of whom have continued engagement with Moscow despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
