Prague – Billionaire populist Andrej Babiš is set for a political comeback after his ANO party won the 2025 Czech parliamentary election, according to official results. Securing approximately 34.6% of the vote, ANO emerged as the dominant force but fell short of the numbers needed to govern alone, capturing 86 seats in the 200-seat Chamber of Deputies.

The result marks a significant shift away from the incumbent pro-Western government led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, whose Spolu (Together) alliance finished a distant second with about 23.2% of the vote. Babiš, a former prime minister, campaigned on a platform critical of the current government's policies, including a pledge to halt military aid to Ukraine, a stance that has raised concerns about a potential change in the Czech Republic's foreign policy.

Now facing the task of building a government, Babiš must enter into coalition negotiations. He has indicated a preference for forming a one-party cabinet that would seek support from other parties in parliament. Potential partners include the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) party, which won approximately 7.9% of the vote, and the anti-establishment Motorists for Themselves party, which secured about 6.8%. Both parties have expressed an openness to cooperation.

Babiš's victory could align the Czech Republic more closely with the positions of neighboring Hungary and Slovakia, which have taken more skeptical stances on supporting Ukraine. Described as a "Trumpist," Babiš has been critical of the European Union and has pledged to reverse many of the reforms enacted by Fiala's government. However, despite his eurosceptic rhetoric, he has also recently affirmed his commitment to the Czech Republic's membership in the EU and NATO.

The final election results saw several other parties crossing the threshold to enter parliament. The STAN (Mayors and Independents) party received 11.1% of the vote, while the Pirate party garnered 8.7%.

President Petr Pavel is now expected to begin consultations with party leaders to facilitate the formation of the next government, with the first mandate to form a cabinet traditionally going to the winner of the election. The coming weeks of negotiations will determine the final composition and policy direction of the new Czech government.