🔗 Share this article

Andrej Babiš has held discussions with Czech President Petr Pavel and plans to engage with different faction representatives as he commences the difficult endeavor of creating a lasting cabinet subsequent to his ANO party triumphed at the polls while missing an outright majority.

Election Results

Complete counts showed ANO captured 34.5% of electoral support from the weekend polling, translating to a initial 80 seats in the 200-member parliament. The moderate conservative bloc under outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala finished second with 23.4%.

"I've vowed to demonstrate the president a method that will comply with Czech and European laws," Babiš stated before Sunday's discussions commenced.

Political Challenges

Although hailing the "landmark outcome" as "the pinnacle" of his political career, Babiš faces significant obstacles both to assume the premiership and to obtain and sustain support for the single-party minority government he has outlined.

Multiple political groups have already ruled out creating a partnership with ANO, forcing the billionaire to court approval from minor right-leaning parties. "We're initiating talks with the SPD and the Motorists, and aim for a single-party government headed by ANO," he affirmed.

Political Platform

The billionaire, positioned as the country's seventh-richest man with an approximate fortune of $3.9 billion, ran on vows for accelerated development, higher wages and pensions and decreased levies. He also committed to challenge the EU's border policy and environmental initiative, and to end the artillery support program, instead assisting the Ukrainian government solely via EU channels.

Potential Allies

Babiš's movement holds some common ground with the far-right SPD, which also opposes EU climate and immigration policies – as does the smaller rightwing Motorists party.

The more hardline Moscow-friendly, anti-defense pact, anti-bloc SPD also ran on a "Czexit" promise to withdraw Czechia from the union, which Babiš has categorically rejected. He has repeatedly insisted his party is "pro-European, and supportive of the defense pact".

Discussion Scenarios

The Motorists party and the SPD have shown receptiveness to negotiations with the winning party, but it remains uncertain how far either party will choose to back a one-party administration instead of pursuing a formal alliance agreement – or how long such approval would continue.

Election experts observed that the SPD's electoral performance was noticeably diminished than the predicted 13% prior to voting, meaning its negotiating position in talks on any parliamentary backing agreement would not be as powerful as earlier thought.

Constitutional Considerations

Even if Babiš is ultimately capable to show the president – who overcame the businessman in last year's presidential race – with a multi-party agreement representing a parliamentary majority in parliament, his problems may persist.

Pavel stated prior to voting that he would not approve any government officials who sought Czechia's withdrawal from the EU or from Nato. He has also mentioned he was seeking guidance from lawyers regarding a potential ethical concern involving the billionaire.

Global Response

European far-right leaders including Budapest's leader, who wrote online that "Reality has won!", and the French nationalist, who said "patriotic parties" were being "invited to lead throughout the continent", have congratulated Babiš.

Nevertheless, while ANO is part of the nationalist European parliamentary group and Babiš has described himself as an fan of Budapest's approach, the bloc's primary troublemaker, it is uncertain to what extent he will associate with the anti-bloc faction.

Expert Opinions

Policy observers say Babiš's approach is more practical than doctrinal and that he is doubtful to initiate a major confrontation with the EU as long as the Czech Republic needs EU funds and the billionaire's businesses continue to profit from the union.

Czech institutions are also likely to constrain the billionaire at home, with extreme changes likely to be hindered by the legislative chamber, which can veto any proposed electoral law or fundamental law amendments and must approve judges appointed to the constitutional court.