Andrej Babiš suffered a stark political defeat as the opposition movement, the Mayors and Independents, swept the final round of Senate elections and secured victories in municipal contests.
Senate Debacle and the Second-Round Defeat
The second round of voting for one-third of the Senate concluded with the ruling ANO movement failing to capture a single mandate despite advancing 13 candidates into the final runoff. The governing party had targeted the upper house to break legislative gridlock that Prime Minister Babiš blamed for stalling government bills since February. Instead, the opposition consolidated its grip on the chamber.
The Mayors and Independents movement, known as STAN, capitalized on strong momentum from the first round where they secured two seats outright. In the final runoffs, STAN added eight more senators to their ranks. The Civic Democratic Party, or ODS, claimed seven seats while defending five, ensuring their continued status as the largest senatorial caucus and preserving Miloš Vystrčil’s position as Senate president, according to party leader Martin Kupka.
For the ANO movement, the result is catastrophic; certainly, we did not think that we would not gain a single senator in these elections. Unfortunately, it ended as it ended.
Andrej Babiš, Prime Minister and Chairman of ANO
Voter Turnout and High-Profile Electoral Showdowns
Turnout dynamics heavily influenced the final outcome across the 22 contested districts. While the first round drew 43.31 percent of voters, historic trends held true as participation plunged for the runoff. Analytical institutes had noted ahead of the vote that government supporters viewed the upper house as less crucial than opposition voters did.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and his ANO party have suffered a setback in municipal and Senate elections, winning fewer regional capitals than in 2022. The opposition Mayors and Independents party made gains, while Babiš accused rival parties of campaigning against him… pic.twitter.com/uayn2guGvr
High-profile races drew intense national attention. The Pirate Party lost its representation in the upper house when Adéla Sucharda Šípová narrowly lost the Kladno district by 723 votes.
Municipal Shifts and STAN’s Rise as Opposition Leader
Beyond the Senate, municipal elections delivered results that signaled a shifting political landscape. In Prague, STAN captured 23 percent of the vote to edge past ODS at 22 percent. The outcome demonstrated that STAN is outperforming traditional rivals in core opposition strongholds and positioning itself as a challenger to Prime Minister Babiš.
STAN leader Vít Rakušan acknowledged the results by declaring that his movement accepts the mandate to lead the opposition into future parliamentary contests. Opinion polling from September had already placed STAN in second place nationally behind ANO, and party leadership emphasized a strategy of independent growth rather than immediate coalition friction. Christian Democrats also posted municipal gains particularly in Moravia, while ODS faced internal questions regarding a perceived shift toward leftist candidate selections.
Legislative Deadlock and Open Questions for the Government
Prime Minister Babiš blamed the legislative stalemate on a political climate defined less by cooperation and more by hostility. He argued that opposition senators reflexively return government proposals to the Chamber of Deputies, complicating executive governance. Babiš also warned that continued resistance from municipal authorities in Prague would ultimately penalize local residents.
With the Senate remaining firmly under opposition control and municipal power balances shifting, the governing coalition faces mounting pressure to reevaluate its legislative agenda. Observers note that unresolved disputes over administrative cooperation remain hanging over the cabinet as it navigates the remainder of its term.