In a dramatic turn of events, billionaire Andrej Babiš has staged a stunning political comeback in the Czech Republic, with his ANO party emerging victorious in the parliamentary elections held on October 5, 2025. The election, marked by a robust 69% voter turnout, has thrust Babiš back into the center of Czech politics, signaling a potential shift in the nation’s domestic and foreign policy and raising questions about the country’s future direction within the European Union.
According to the Czech Statistics Office, Babiš’s ANO (Action of Dissatisfied Citizens) party secured 35% of the vote with nearly all ballots counted, soundly defeating the Together conservative coalition led by incumbent Prime Minister Petr Fiala, which garnered just over 23%. Other government allies, including the STAN mayors group and the Pirate Party, received 11.1% and 8.7% of the vote respectively. The Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, an anti-migrant force, captured 7.9%, while the right-wing Motorists party collected 6.8%.
Despite this clear electoral win, Babiš’s ANO party failed to secure an outright majority in the 200-seat lower house of parliament, winning 80 seats. The Freedom party took 15 seats, the Motorists 13, and the Together coalition 52. This outcome has set the stage for intense coalition negotiations, as Babiš seeks to form a government capable of winning a mandatory parliamentary confidence vote. "We will definitely lead talks with the SPD and the Motorists and seek a single-party government led by ANO," Babiš declared, as reported by Firstpost.
Babiš’s victory is widely viewed as the “absolute peak” of his political career. The 71-year-old, who was once a member of the Communist Party before the 1989 Velvet Revolution, has drawn comparisons to U.S. President Donald Trump, embracing the label of “Trumpist” and cultivating a populist image. After his success, he told supporters and the media, “We want the Czech Republic to become the best place for life in the European Union and we will do everything to make it happen.”
The election’s outcome is expected to have significant repercussions for Czech foreign policy. Under Fiala’s pro-Western government, the Czech Republic had been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, providing military aid and backing initiatives to supply artillery shells to Ukrainian forces. In contrast, Babiš has openly criticized these efforts, stating, “We don’t like it. We have a different view of it.” He has pledged to revoke support for Ukraine and has criticized NATO’s push to increase defense spending, as well as a deal to purchase 24 U.S. F-35 fighter jets.
Political analysts predict that Babiš’s return could steer the Czech Republic away from its strong support for Ukraine and align it more closely with Hungary and Slovakia, both of which have taken a pro-Russian stance during the ongoing war. Babiš’s recent partnership with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Slovak leader Robert Fico in the “Patriots for Europe” alliance in the European Parliament underscores this shift. The alliance represents hard-right groups critical of EU migration and climate policies, emphasizing national sovereignty and a skeptical stance toward Brussels.
Yet, Babiš has maintained that he is “pro-European and pro-NATO,” a position that seems at odds with the views of his potential coalition partners. The Freedom party, for example, has called for the Czech Republic to leave the EU and NATO and has advocated for the expulsion of nearly all of the country’s 380,000 Ukrainian refugees. The Motorists, backed by former EU-skeptic President Václav Klaus, share a critical view of EU climate policies and migration rules. This ideological patchwork makes coalition-building a complex and potentially unstable endeavor.
President Petr Pavel, who defeated Babiš in the presidential race two years ago, is scheduled to meet with Babiš and other party leaders to discuss the formation of the new government. Traditionally, the leader of the strongest political force is given the first chance to form a government, but without a majority, Babiš will need at least tacit support from the Freedom party and the Motorists to secure a confidence vote. Some analysts, like Vladimíra Dvořáková from the Czech Technical University in Prague, warn, “We’re entering an unknown future.”
Babiš’s political journey has been anything but smooth. After founding ANO in 2013 as an anti-establishment force, he quickly rose to become finance minister and then prime minister in 2017. His tenure was marked by both economic pragmatism and controversy. As the owner of Agrofert, a sprawling conglomerate, Babiš faced persistent allegations of conflict of interest and fraud involving EU subsidies. Police recommended his indictment, and mass protests erupted in 2019, with a quarter of a million people demanding his resignation. He was also implicated in the “Pandora Papers” scandal and lost the 2021 parliamentary election, followed by a defeat in the 2023 presidential race.
Despite these setbacks, Babiš’s populist messaging and relentless campaigning—often blaming the ruling coalition for the energy crisis and inflation, and promising to revoke unpopular pension reforms—have resonated with voters. His comeback is seen as a testament to the enduring appeal of populism in Central Europe, where leaders like Orbán and Fico have also found success by challenging the political mainstream and appealing to national identity.
Babiš’s return is not without its challenges. He still faces unresolved fraud charges in the EU subsidies case, and the new parliament may have to lift his official immunity for a court verdict to be issued. Moreover, recent amendments to conflict-of-interest laws could complicate his business dealings, as stricter regulations now prohibit transferring ownership to trust funds or relatives.
The election also saw the collapse of far-left parties, including the maverick Communists, who failed to win a single seat. This shift underscores the growing dominance of populist and right-wing forces in Czech politics, as traditional parties struggle to maintain relevance in a rapidly changing landscape.
For many Czechs, the high voter turnout reflected a deep engagement with the country’s future. The choice was not simply between personalities but between competing visions of national identity, sovereignty, and the Czech Republic’s place in Europe. As coalition talks continue, the nation—and Europe—waits to see whether Babiš’s leadership will bring stability or further division.
With the outcome of coalition negotiations still uncertain, the Czech Republic stands at a crossroads. The decisions made in the coming weeks will not only shape the next government but could also redefine the country’s role in Central Europe and the broader European Union. The world is watching as Babiš, a populist billionaire with a controversial past, once again seeks to chart the course for his nation’s future.
