“Czech Orban” Rises: Babis’ Win Could Shake EU Support for Ukraine
Leader of ANO party Andrej Babis looks on as he speaks during a press conference after the preliminary results of the parliamentary election, at the party's election headquarters in Prague, Czech Republic, October 4, 2025. REUTERS/Radovan Stoklasa
Populist ex-Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has won the most votes in the Czech parliamentary elections, potentially reshaping the country’s stance on the war in Ukraine. However, his ANO party fell short of a majority and must now seek coalition partners.
This is reported by The Guardian.
According to preliminary results, ANO won the most votes but fell short of an absolute majority in parliament. This means Babis will need to negotiate a coalition to form a government. He has already indicated that he is considering talks with two political forces: the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), which won 7.9% of the vote, and the right-wing Motorists, which won 6.8%.
At the same time, Babis has categorically ruled out cooperation with the current governing parties that formed a coalition after the 2021 elections. To achieve a parliamentary majority, he will therefore have to rely on extreme forces, which could significantly alter the political course of the Czech Republic.
Experts note that Babis has repeatedly questioned the advisability of military aid to Ukraine, raising concern among European partners. Because of this, he is often dubbed the “Czech Orbán,” alluding to the pro-Russian stance of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Ivan Us, Chief Consultant of the National Institute for Strategic Studies, emphasized that the rise to power of Eurosceptic or pro-Russian politicians in EU countries creates risks for the European Union’s unified support for Ukraine.
“When those who seek closer ties with Russia come to power in EU countries close to Ukraine, it is always a problem. This threatens the EU’s unity,” the expert noted.
Nevertheless, even if a new government is formed under Babis’ leadership, his freedom of action will be limited due to the complex coalition configuration and ongoing pressure from Brussels. As a result, a radical shift in the Czech Republic’s foreign policy remains uncertain for now.
As is known, in the parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic, which ended on October 4, the populist ANO party of the country’s former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who had previously repeatedly expressed anti-Ukrainian views, won.
By the way, on Friday, October 3, parliamentary elections began in the Czech Republic. Polling stations will open at 2:00 p.m. local time and will be open until 10:00 p.m., and the next day, voting will continue from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Counting will begin immediately after that, and the first results are planned to be announced on the evening of October 4.
Recall, earlier, Czech President Petr Pavel spoke in favor of continuing the initiative to supply ammunition to Ukraine. He emphasized that any attempts to limit or terminate this program would be a “dangerous and regrettable” decision that could undermine the trust of allies. Pavel also commented on the statements of the opposition party ANO, which promised to curtail the initiative if it wins the elections. He insists that the program should continue, because it not only helps Ukraine, but also strengthens international solidarity.
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