Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis’ ANO party has suffered an electoral setback after failing to win any of the seats it contested in Senate elections, while opposition parties emerged as the main winners.
The results, announced on Saturday, marked one of the first major electoral tests for Babis’ government since it took office last year.
ANO had hoped to strengthen its representation in the 81-member upper house, where one-third of the seats were contested, and opposition parties retain a majority.
Babis described the outcome as “catastrophic”, although it is unlikely to destabilise his coalition government, which includes right-wing and far-right parties.
The pro-European Mayors and Independents party recorded the strongest performance, winning 10 of the 14 seats it contested, including two secured in the first round. The Civic Democrats won seven seats.
The Senate elections followed municipal polls held the previous weekend, in which ANO won six of the Czech Republic’s 13 regional capitals, down from eight in the previous elections four years ago.
Since taking office, Babis’ government has ended direct state military support for Ukraine in its war against Russia and challenged European Union climate policies.
Although the lower house remains the country’s principal legislative chamber and can override Senate vetoes, the upper house plays a key role in approving constitutional amendments and confirming presidential nominees to the Constitutional Court.
Despite the electoral setback, ANO continues to lead national opinion polls. The government has also pursued looser fiscal policies to increase wages, pensions and transport investment, attracting criticism in the traditionally fiscally conservative country.
Turnout in the Senate run-off voting on Friday and Saturday was low. Under the electoral system, the two leading candidates advance to a second round unless one secures more than 50 per cent of the vote in the first round.
