Politics · Other · 18 hrs ago
Czech opposition keeps Senate majority after strong first-round showing
Czech voters took part in Senate and local elections, the first major test of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s government since it took office in December.
Five liberal and conservative opposition candidates won outright in the first round of the Senate vote.
Runoffs will decide the remaining Senate seats on October 16 and 17, and ANO, Babiš’s right-populist party, has the most candidates in those races.
The opposition is set to keep its majority in the 81-seat Senate, where one third of seats are contested every two years.
The Senate can delay changes to laws and block changes to the constitution, giving it a check on the government-aligned lower house.
In local elections, ANO received about 13.3% of the vote, while independent candidates won the most seats in city and municipal councils.
The final local results were still being reported, but the Senate runoffs are the next step in settling the election outcome.
Czech liberal and conservative opposition candidates won five Senate seats outright in the first round, and the opposition is certain to keep its Senate majority.
Runoff elections will decide the remaining seats, with ANO, the party of Prime Minister Andrej Babis, sending the most candidates to the second round.
The Senate remains a counterweight to the government-dominated lower house and can delay laws and block constitutional changes.
ANO won about 13 percent of the vote in the parallel local elections, while independent candidates won the most local council seats.
The elections were seen as the first test of public sentiment toward Babis’s government since it took office in December.
- Who
- Liberal and conservative opposition candidates, and candidates from the governing ANO party.
- What
- The opposition secured five Senate seats in the first round and will keep its Senate majority. Runoffs will decide the remaining seats.
- When
- The first-round results were reported on Sunday, October 11, 2026; runoffs are scheduled for October 16 and 17.
- Where
- Czechia.
- Why
- The elections were seen as the first test of public sentiment toward Babis’s government since it took office.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
These elections have confirmed that the ANO movement is the strongest political force in the country, de facto at all levels except the Senate
The Senate and local elections took place, serving as the first test of public sentiment toward the government since it took office.
Preliminary final results showed that five opposition candidates had won Senate seats outright and the opposition would retain its majority.
Runoff elections are scheduled to decide the remaining Senate seats.
- Opposition seats won outright
- 5
- Senate size
- 81 seats
- Seats up for election
- One-third of the Senate
- ANO candidates in runoffs
- 13
- ANO local-election vote share
- Nearly 13.3 percent in the preliminary final result
- Senate runoff dates
- October 16–17, 2026
Sources
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