Voting began Friday in the Czech Republic’s two-day parliamentary election, with former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and his ANO movement challenging the centre-right government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala. Polling stations were scheduled to remain open through Saturday, October 4. Reuters
Voters were choosing 200 members of the lower house of parliament. Major campaign issues included the cost of living, energy prices, taxation, relations with the European Union and NATO, and the country’s support for Ukraine. Reuters
Babiš’s ANO campaigned on measures including higher wages and pensions, lower taxes and lower energy costs. It also proposed ending the Czech-led initiative that arranges artillery ammunition for Ukraine, arguing that NATO and the EU should take greater responsibility for assistance. Fiala’s SPOLU coalition, by contrast, supported continuing assistance to Ukraine and maintaining the Czech Republic’s existing pro-EU and NATO orientation. Reuters
The final result was not yet known on October 3 because voting continued the following day. Results announced on October 4 subsequently showed ANO winning 34.7% of the vote and 80 of the 200 seats, while Fiala’s SPOLU coalition received 23.2% and 52 seats.
News as Reported.
