Babiš’s ANO fails to win a single Czech Senate seat
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s ANO movement failed to elect any of its thirteen runoff candidates in the Czech Senate election. STAN won ten seats and ODS seven, preserving opposition strength in the upper chamber. Babiš called the result catastrophic, while opposition leaders emphasised the Senate’s role as a counterweight to the government.
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Thirteen ANO finalists lose their races
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s ANO movement won no seats in the Czech Senate election completed on 17 October. None of its thirteen runoff candidates was elected. The governing movement also lost the only seat it was defending in this election.[1], [2]
ANO’s Senate faction fell to 14 members. Babiš called the result catastrophic, blamed regional organisations and said the movement’s leadership would evaluate the outcome. He said he did not expect a change in government strategy.[1]
STAN takes ten seats, ODS seven
Mayors and Independents, the opposition movement known as STAN, won 10 seats from 14 candidates. The Civic Democratic Party, ODS, won 7 while defending 5. Its joint group with TOP 09 remained the chamber’s largest, and STAN retained second place. Factions linked to the former governing coalition could together reach 61 senators, approximately three-quarters of the chamber.[1]
Runoff turnout rises from six years earlier
Runoff turnout was 21.12 per cent, against 16.73 per cent in the same districts six years earlier. Incumbents retained 16 of the 27 seats renewed; five candidates had won in the first round. Only one woman was elected, leaving 14 female senators. ODS leader Martin Kupka emphasised the upper house’s role as a counterweight to the government majority.[1]
