Czech PM Babis's Party Fails to Win Any Seats in Senate Elections
In a significant setback for Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, his ruling coalition failed to secure a single seat in the recent Senate elections, allowing opposition parties to maintain their majori
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis's populist ruling coalition suffered a major defeat in the recent Senate elections. Over the two-day ballot, Babis's party failed to win any seats, ensuring pro-Western opposition parties retained their majority in the upper house of parliament.
These elections marked the first electoral test for Babis after his return to power in October 2025, following a four-year hiatus. The results suggest a potential decline in public support for the prime minister's policies.
Highlights
- Prime Minister Andrej Babis's ruling coalition won no seats in the Senate elections.
- Opposition parties maintained their majority, securing 22 out of 27 seats contested in the 81-member chamber.
- This outcome represents Babis's first significant political defeat since his parliamentary election victory in October 2025.
- Babis expressed surprise at the result but vowed to continue with his government's agenda.
Details
The elections held on Saturday are seen as a crucial moment in Czech politics. According to the final results, candidates directly affiliated with opposition parties secured 22 of the 27 available seats, preserving the existing opposition majority in the Senate. Babis's centrist ANO (YES) movement failed to gain any new seats, leaving it with 14 Senate lawmakers.
Prime Minister Babis stated, "We certainly didn't expect that we wouldn't win a single Senate seat in this election," but affirmed his commitment to proceeding with his government's agenda. This agenda includes an unpopular plan to revamp funding for the country’s public broadcasters. Additionally, Babis's Eurosceptic coalition had previously ended direct military support for Ukraine and opposed European Union policies on combating global warming.
Why it matters
While the lower house of the Czech parliament holds the primary legislative role, the Senate plays a significant part in passing constitutional amendments and approving Constitutional Court judges. The strong position of the opposition in the Senate has the potential to block or delay some of the Babis government's key legislative initiatives. This situation could impact Babis's future policies and the country's relationship with the European Union.