Czechs vote in Senate and local elections in first test for populist PM Babiš

Czech voters cast their ballots on Friday, marking the kickoff of two-day elections to elect one-third of the members in the Senate, the upper house of Parliament, and local representatives. This marks the first test for Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and his centrist ANO (YES) movement following their decisive victory in parliamentary elections in October 2025.

The Senate, composed of 81 seats, is currently controlled by pro-Western opposition parties. Twenty-seven Senate seats are up for grabs in this two-round election, with the winner determined by runoffs scheduled for the following week. Preliminary results are expected on Saturday.

Babiš formed a governing coalition with two smaller political groups, which have agendas that include reducing support for Ukraine and rejecting certain European Union policies. In contrast, the opposition and President Petr Pavel continue to strongly support Ukraine following Russia's invasion of the country.

While the lower house of Parliament holds sway over the legislative process, the Senate plays a crucial role in approving constitutional amendments and appointing judges to the Constitutional Court. In local elections, independent candidates and groups typically secure the most seats nationwide.