In the regional elections held in the Czech Republic, the opposition party ANO emerges victorious.
The anti-establishment ANO party, headed by ex-Prime Minister and tycoon Andrej Babis, emerged victorious in the Czech Republic's regional polls, despite the east's flood calamity. As per the Czech Statistical Office ČSU, with approximately 95% votes counted, ANO now controls a majority in 10 out of 13 regional legislatures. This alliance is partnering with Hungary's Fidesz and Austria's FPO at the EU level for joint efforts.
The liberal-conservative coalition, led by Prime Minister Petr Fiala, managed to clinch first place only in South Bohemia, South Moravia, and the Liberec region. The official results weren't expected until Sunday night. These elections served as a significant barometer of public opinion prior to the 2023 parliamentary election.
Separately, the elections in 13 regions, excluding Prague – which holds a unique status – were being held anew. These regions govern schools, hospitals, and nursing homes, among other services. Additionally, one-third of the electoral districts selected new senators every two years. The counting process was still in progress. Runoff elections generally would be required within a week. The upper house of parliament has the power to veto constitutional amendments among other roles.
The flood tragedy in the eastern region created unpleasant conditions for the elections. An estimated low voter turnout of around a third of eligible voters was projected. The elections continued uninterrupted despite legal reasons that prevented their postponement. Criticism of this decision was levied by the mayor of the ravaged city of Opava, Tomáš Navrátil, who expressed, "People are really struggling psychologically – they don't feel like thinking about elections."
The opposition party expressed concern about holding the elections in the flood-stricken regions, believing that the voters' focus should be on their recovery. Despite the criticism, the opposition party performed poorly in the regional polls, managing to secure victories only in a few regions.
