The Czech Republic witnessed the victory of the main opposition group led by former populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis in the recent election for a third of the seats in the Senate. Despite this win, the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Petr Fiala still maintained a majority in the upper house of parliament. Andrej Babis’ ANO party secured eight out of the 27 seats that were up for grabs in the 81-seat Senate during the two-round election, marking the first time the centrist movement has captured this many seats in the Senate.
The results of the election serve as a significant boost for Babis as he looks forward to the upcoming parliamentary elections next year, where ANO is anticipated to perform well given its popularity. On the other hand, candidates associated with the ruling coalition managed to secure 15 seats in the Senate, ensuring their presence in the legislative processes of the country.
While the lower house of Parliament typically holds more authority in the legislative process, the Senate plays a crucial role in the approval of constitutional amendments and Constitutional Court judges. Apart from the Senate election, ANO also dominated the Czech regional elections, triumphing in 10 out of the 13 contested regions.
The current Czech government has taken a firm stance in support of Ukraine following the invasion by Russia. Czechia has provided military aid, including heavy weapons, to the Ukrainian armed forces and is actively working on a plan to procure artillery shells that Ukraine urgently requires from non-European Union countries. As a result of the conflict, approximately 320,000 Ukrainian refugees have sought shelter in the Czech Republic, highlighting the significant impact of the ongoing crisis on both nations.
