In the recent regional elections in Czechia, the ANO movement emerged as the dominant force by winning in ten out of 13 regions. This victory was a significant one for the main opposition party, as it was able to replicate its success from four years ago. The ANO movement secured victories in regions such as Vysočina, Plzeň, Central Bohemia, Ústí nad Labem, Karlovy Vary, Hradec Králové, Pardubice, Zlín, Olomouc, and Moravia-Silesia. Additionally, the coalition SPOLU emerged victorious in the South Moravian Region, the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) won in the South Bohemian Region, and the Mayors for Liberec Region won in the Liberec Region.
The voter turnout for the regional elections was just under 33%, slightly lower than the 38% turnout in the last regional elections. Despite this, the ANO movement was able to secure a total of 292 seats, which marked a significant increase compared to the previous elections. They also gained 114 regional councillors, further solidifying their position in the regions. While the election result was not deemed a success or a fatal failure for the ODS party, Prime Minister and ODS Chairman Petr Fiala acknowledged the strengthened position of the ANO movement and the need for further negotiations.
In addition to their victories in the regional elections, ANO also saw success in the Senate races, with 19 candidates advancing to the runoffs for 27 seats. The top two finishers in each district will now face off in a head-to-head vote next weekend, further solidifying ANO’s presence in the political landscape. The Czech Statistics Office reported that five candidates were able to secure seats outright by reaching the 50% threshold, leaving 22 seats to be decided in the upcoming runoffs between the top two finishers in each race.
Overall, the regional elections in Czechia showcased the ANO movement’s strength and dominance in the political arena. With victories in ten out of 13 regions and a significant increase in seats compared to the last elections, the ANO movement has solidified its position as a major player in Czech politics. The success in both the regional elections and Senate races highlight the movement’s growing influence and coalition potential, setting the stage for further negotiations and discussions in the future political landscape.
