Populist Czech PM Babis goes empty-handed in Senate elections

The populist Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis and his ruling coalition have suffered a significant setback in the recent Senate elections, failing to secure any seats in the upper house of parliament. The election served as a crucial test for Babis after his return to power following a four-year hiatus in October 2025, when he won parliamentary elections.

The final results revealed that opposition parties, with the backing of pro-Western parties, won 22 out of 27 contested Senate seats, maintaining their previous majority in the 81-member chamber. Babis' centrist ANO movement, led by the Prime Minister himself, did not manage to win any additional seats, leaving the movement with only 14 Senate lawmakers.

Babis expressed disappointment, stating, "We certainly didn't expect that we wouldn't win a single Senate seat in this election," but insisted that his government's agenda would still proceed. This includes a contentious plan to revamp funding for the country's public broadcasters. The euroskeptic coalition, under Babis, has also ended direct military support for Ukraine amid its defense against a Russian invasion and opposed EU policies aimed at combating global warming.

Although the lower house of the Czech parliament holds the primary legislative power, the Senate plays a significant role in constitutional amendments and the appointment of Constitutional Court judges.