The 2025 Czech elections saw a populist return to power
In short: In October 2025, Czech voters reshaped their government. The incumbent centre-right administration was defeated, replaced by a populist coalition led by Andrej Babiš. This shift followed a turbulent period marked by political scandals, shifting alliances, and legal battles over how parties register for the vote.
The parliamentary elections held on 3 and 4 October 2025 resulted in a significant political realignment. The incumbent centre-right government, led by Petr Fiala, lost its majority after a single term. The populist ANO party, led by former prime minister Andrej Babiš, emerged as the largest party in the Chamber of Deputies. On 9 December, Babiš secured his second term as prime minister by building a coalition including the far-right Motorists for Themselves (AUTO) and Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD).
The election was shaped by several controversies and structural changes. It marked the first time mail-in voting was permitted for Czech citizens living or stationed abroad. Furthermore, the election was shaped by a Bitcoin controversy at the Ministry of Justice; Pavel Blažek resigned as Justice Minister after accepting an unverified, massive donation from criminal Tomáš Jiřikovský.
The electoral process itself faced unprecedented legal scrutiny. Several parties, including the Stačilo! alliance, were accused of creating 'non-coalitions'—registering as single parties to bypass the higher electoral thresholds required for coalitions. While the Brno Regional Court noted that Stačilo!'s circumvention of the law was 'clearly visible,' it ultimately allowed the list to proceed. These legal challenges delayed the printing of voting lists until 3 September.
The results were a mix of surprises. While the ruling parties performed better than polling suggested—with the previous government winning 92 seats despite projections of 62–70—the far-right SPD performed worse than expected. Meanwhile, the left-conservative Stačilo! failed to enter Parliament entirely.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025 Czech parliamentary election
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