🔗 Share this article Czech Populist Andrej Babiš Starts Government Formation After Poll Triumph The populist billionaire has held discussions with Czech President Petr Pavel and is set to consult with various party heads as he embarks on the complex task of forming a stable government subsequent to his ANO party secured victory while missing an decisive mandate. Poll Outcomes Final tallies indicated ANO obtained 34.5% of ballots cast from the weekend polling, equating to a provisional 80 seats in the 200-member parliament. The centre-right Spolu coalition led by outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala came in second with 23.4%. "I've committed to show the president a method that will comply with domestic and European regulations," Babiš declared before the weekend talks began. Governing Hurdles While celebrating the "landmark outcome" as "the absolute peak" of his governmental journey, Babiš confronts major challenges both to become prime minister and to obtain and sustain support for the minority administration he has proposed. Three established parties have publicly dismissed entering a coalition with ANO, pushing the leader to pursue support from smaller conservative movements. "We'll undertake talks with the SPD and the Motorists, and pursue a single-party government led by ANO," he affirmed. Political Platform Babiš, ranked as the country's seventh-richest man with an approximate fortune of $3.9 billion, promised vows for quickened expansion, higher wages and pensions and decreased levies. He also vowed to oppose the EU's border policy and climate program, and to end the military aid project, instead assisting the Ukrainian government exclusively through EU channels. Potential Allies ANO shares certain similarities with the nationalist SPD, which also opposes EU environmental and border regulations – as does the minor conservative Motorists faction. The more radical Moscow-friendly, anti-alliance, anti-EU SPD also campaigned on a "Czexit" commitment to exit Czechia from the union, which Babiš has categorically rejected. He has repeatedly insisted his party is "pro-EU, and pro-alliance". Negotiation Dynamics Both the Motorists and the SPD have expressed openness to talks with Babiš, but it remains uncertain how far any group will opt to sustain a Babiš-led minority cabinet rather than seek a official partnership treaty – or how long such backing could last. Political analysts observed that the SPD's ballot percentage was substantially reduced than the 13% forecast prior to voting, meaning its discussion leverage in negotiations concerning parliamentary backing agreement would not be as influential as initially anticipated. Constitutional Considerations Even assuming Babiš is eventually able to show the president – who overcame the businessman in recent head of state voting – with a multi-party agreement representing a legislative control in parliament, his problems may persist. Pavel stated before the election that he would not name any cabinet members who sought Czechia's withdrawal from the EU or from Nato. He has also mentioned he was taking advice from lawyers regarding a potential ethical concern related to Babiš. European Context European far-right leaders including Budapest's leader, who wrote online that "Truth has prevailed!", and France's Marine Le Pen, who said "patriotic parties" were being "summoned to govern across European nations", have congratulated Babiš. However, although ANO is part of the far-right Patriots for Europe bloc and Babiš has presented himself as an admirer of Orbán, the bloc's primary troublemaker, it is unclear how far he will associate with the anti-EU camp. Observer Views Government experts believe Babiš's strategy is more realistic than ideological and that he is unlikely to pick a serious fight with Brussels as long as the the nation requires European financing and the leader's companies continue to profit from the union. Government structures are also probable to restrict the politician nationally, with extreme changes probable to be blocked by the senate, which can veto any proposed electoral law or fundamental law amendments and must validate court nominations appointed to the supreme judicial body.