The opposition party ANO won the regional elections in the Czech Republic in 10 of the 13 regions where voting took place. reports Radio Prague.
“The regions where the opposition party was defeated were Southern Bohemia… South Moravian Region… and Liberec Region. A big surprise in these elections was the dominant position of ANO in the Central Czech Republic, which was expected to go to the ruling parties,” the message reads.
The ANO party is headed by the former prime minister of the Czech Republic (2017-21) Andrej Babis, who criticized certain aspects of aid to Ukraine and sanctions against the Russian Federation, but at the same time condemned the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. He also advocated reforms and decentralization of the EU. In the presidential elections held in 2023, Babis made it to the second round, where he lost to the current head of the Czech state, Petr Pavel, winning 45% of the vote.
The publication writes that despite a convincing victory in most regions of the Czech Republic, ANO may face problems in forming governing coalitions in some regions, where it may be ostracized by liberal democratic parties. The party will be able to rule alone in three regions.
Babish called the victory of his party in the regions a “phenomenal success”.
Current Prime Minister Petr Fiala took a restrained stance, saying that ANO’s victory in the regional elections was predictable. The leader of the “Pirate Party” Ivan Bartosh said that in view of the party’s results in the regional elections, the party’s leadership will resign at the upcoming party conference.
The Czech Republic is the country with the third largest number of Ukrainian refugees in Europe. According to Eurostat, at the end of July, 369.61 thousand people had the status of temporary protection in the Czech Republic.
