Derweil in Tschechien... 39/25
10.10.2025
Results of the Czech parliamentary elections
Parliamentary elections were held in the Czech Republic on October 3 and 4. As a result, the previous government was voted out of office.
The clear winner of the election is the ANO party of billionaire Andrej Babiš, who was already head of government from 2017 to 2021. His party received 35% of the vote. The latest polls had predicted a result of around 30%, which is why it is assumed that voters from smaller parties have switched to ANO to ensure the current government is replaced. Babiš is currently in talks about forming a joint government with the right-wing populist SPD (Party of Direct Democracy), which achieved 8%, and the motorists' party Motoristé sobě (Motorists), which achieved 7%. Both were thus below the forecasts, meaning that they also appear to have lost ground to the ANO.
The previous governing parties, the conservative alliance SPOLU (23%) and the mayoral party STAN (11%), lost their majority. Until last year, the Pirates were also part of the government and this time they achieved 9%.
The Stačilo! alliance, which is dominated by the - only slightly modernized - communists of the KSČM and was considered a potential coalition partner of the ANO before the election (which already governed with the KSČM in 2018-2021), failed to reach the 5% hurdle with 4.3%. The Social Democrats of the ČSSD, who had disappeared into insignificance, were also accommodated there, which had been heavily criticized and led to a number of prominent party resignations. Before the election, Stačilo! was predicted to win around 7%, but many voters seem to have switched from this party to ANO.
The very high voter turnout of 69%, the highest since 1998, is pleasing. Voter turnout in the Czech Republic is often quite low, and the country is usually among the worst performers in European elections in particular.
The result was completely different for Czechs voting abroad: SPOLU won here with 39%, ahead of the Pirates (28%) and STAN (22%). The Ano party only achieved around 4%, the SPD and Motoristé sobě around 2% each. 37,654 Czechs cast their votes abroad, which corresponds to a voter turnout of 79%.
What can ANO, SPD and Motoristé expect?
In the German and Western press, Babiš and the ANO were often lumped together with Orban, Fico and the FPÖ and it was feared that after his election victory, the Czech Republic would also join the fundamental opposition to the EU, particularly with regard to support for Ukraine. However, various commentaries in the Czech press do not see this danger. Although ANO would be a member of the "Patriots for Europe" group in the EU Parliament with various right-wing populist parties such as Fidesz, the FPÖ or the Rassemblement National, this should not be taken too seriously, as Babiš is above all a pragmatist. It is also emphasized that the ANO and the German AfD should not be equated, even if the latter was pleased with Babiš's election victory.
Unlike the aforementioned parties, the ANO has never focused on the issue of migration, for example. Membership of the EU and NATO are also absolutely not questioned. Babiš is seen as a politician who, like a businessman - which he actually is - looks above all at what goes down best with his "customers", i.e. the voters, and can easily adapt his political stance accordingly. This became very clear in the first year of the COVID pandemic in particular. He would not be a fundamental threat to democracy and the rule of law, but great care must be taken to separate his economic interests from political action. This is seen as the greatest danger, and President Petr Pavel has also clearly called for a legally secure solution for Babiš's separation from his Agrofert group and his media companies, which he has been promised. Babiš is expected to focus on socio-political issues such as the rising cost of living, pensions and energy prices. In his first term of office, he had already gained a lot of sympathy from this group of voters with a series of benefits for pensioners, for example.
There are great fears regarding a change in Czech policy in support of Ukraine. The Czech ammunition initiative has greatly helped the country in its defense against Russia's invasion and has given the Czech Republic a lot of prestige. While Babiš was still talking about ending this initiative before the election, he is now emphasizing that, above all, no companies should be allowed to make excessive profits from it and that no money should be made available from the Czech state budget for this or for arms deliveries. This should be done via NATO or the EU. A blockade policy like that of Hungary and Slovakia was not to be expected.
With regard to the Czech Republic's relationship with Germany and the EU, commentators do not expect any major changes. Some even believe that the businessman Babiš gets on very well with Friedrich Merz and that he is particularly interested in good relations due to his business interests in Germany.
The ANO's exploratory talks with the SPD and Motoristé this week are intended to clarify, among other things, whether they will form a coalition or tolerate an ANO minority government. The differences between the two smaller partners are likely to play a key role in this. The Motoristé are essentially seen as an economically liberal party that advocates deregulation, privatization, lower taxes and state cuts. Membership of NATO and the EU is not an issue for them, even though the party has become big primarily through its criticism of the EU's Green Deal. The SPD, on the other hand, is at least a right-wing populist party that most closely resembles the AfD, with xenophobia and rejection of migration at its core. It is in favor of leaving the EU and has a critical relationship with the rule of law, which is why SPD leader Okamura's statements this week that he wants to become interior minister and immediately dismiss the police chief because he himself is under investigation were met with clear rejection even from future partner ANO. It is doubtful whether Babiš wants such an errant figure or party in his cabinet.
The first test for the new government will be the adoption of the budget. The draft was submitted by the previous government. The ANO and SPD want to increase the deficit it contains, while the Motoristé are against it.
Brabec remains Hejtman in Ústí
Richard Brabec from the ANO party, who was only elected hejtman of the Ústí district last year, has won a mandate in the parliamentary elections. It was already assumed last year that he would stand for election and there was speculation as to whether he would give up the post of hejtman after just one year(we reported). Now it is clear: he will renounce the mandate he won and remain hejtman in Ústí.
Goat track could be extended
Back in July, we had to report that the so-called Goat Railway between Oldřichov u Duchcova and Krupka město had been placed on a list of lines to be closed by the Czech Railway Administration. The railroad can currently only run from Děčín to Krupka as tourist line T11(information and timetables here) and the renovation of the rest of the route was deemed uneconomical. It has now become known that the railroad administration has changed its position and is considering renovating the section of line. The district of Ústí, which is particularly keen on the tourist potential of the line, has made a strong case for this.
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