How a Billionaire Outsider Reclaimed Power: Babiš Stuns Czech Republic With Election Win
- Cloud 9 News
- Oct 4
- 3 min read
Prague — October 4, 2025 - Billionaire Andrej Babiš's populist ANO 2011 party secured a commanding victory in the Czech Republic's parliamentary election on October 3-4, capturing 34.5% of the vote and 80 seats in the 200-member Chamber of Deputies, positioning the former prime minister for a potential return to power.With 101 seats needed for a majority, ANO fell short but outperformed exit polls, marking a significant swing of 7.4 percentage points from 2021 and signaling a shift toward euroskeptic and anti-Ukraine aid policies in the heart of Central Europe.
Voter turnout reached 68.95%, up 3.56 points from the previous election, as 5.62 million valid votes were cast among 8.25 million registered voters. Babiš, a media mogul and Trump supporter whose net worth exceeds $5 billion, declared victory late Saturday, vowing to form a minority government with confidence-and-supply support from far-right parties while rejecting alliances with centrist rivals.
ANO's surge left the incumbent SPOLU-STAN-Pirates coalition, led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, with 92 seats combined—better than pre-election projections of 62-70 but insufficient to retain power.SPOLU, a conservative alliance of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), Christian Democrats (KDU-ČSL), and TOP 09, garnered 23.4% and 52 seats, down 19 from 2021.The Mayors and Independents (STAN) took 11.2% for 22 seats, while the Pirates surged to 9.0% and 18 seats, and the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) held 7.8% for 15 seats.
Newcomer AUTO (Motorists for Themselves) entered parliament with 6.8% and 13 seats, potentially key to Babiš's minority bid.Left-wing alliance Stačilo! failed to cross the 5% threshold with 4.31%. Fiala conceded defeat, acknowledging ANO's inability to be blocked from forming a government.
Babiš, 70, who served as prime minister from 2017-2021 amid corruption scandals, positioned his campaign on economic woes, inflation control, and opposition to EU-driven Ukraine support—mirroring stances in Hungary and Slovakia."The people have spoken against the current government's failures," Babiš told supporters in Prague, pledging to cut aid to Kyiv and prioritize domestic subsidies.
The result caps a turbulent term for Fiala's pro-EU coalition, rocked by the 2024 assassination attempt on a cultural official and economic fallout from Russia's war in Ukraine, which has driven Czech energy prices up 40% since 2022.ANO's victory, its strongest since 2017's 29.6%, reflects voter fatigue with austerity and migration policies, boosting far-right gains across the Visegrád Group.
Analysts warn of a pivot: The Czech Republic, a staunch NATO ally providing $6 billion in military aid to Ukraine since 2022, may join Budapest and Bratislava in blocking further EU sanctions.Babiš, once fined €10 million in an EU conflict-of-interest probe over his Agrofert agro-empire, has vowed to renegotiate EU funds while maintaining membership.
EU leaders expressed concern, with Ursula von der Leyen urging "stability for our shared values." Fiala called for a "dignified transition," while SPD leader Tomio Okamura offered "constructive opposition" to ANO.Pirates' co-leader Ivan Bartoš decried the outcome as a "populist setback for democracy."
President Petr Pavel, who must appoint a prime minister within 30 days, indicated consultations with party leaders starting Monday.If successful, Babiš could be sworn in by November, reshaping Prague's role in Brussels and Kyiv's defense.
As celebrations echoed in ANO strongholds like Moravia, the election underscores Europe's populist resurgence, with Czech voters betting on Babiš's business acumen amid 7.2% inflation and 3.5% unemployment.The coming weeks will test whether coalition math yields governance or gridlock.
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