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The populist billionaire has conferred with Czech President Petr Pavel and will conduct talks with other political leaders as he embarks on the complex task of forming a stable government after his ANO party triumphed at the polls but failed to obtain an decisive mandate.

Voting Figures

Final tallies indicated ANO obtained 34.5% of electoral support from Friday and Saturday's election, translating to a tentative 80 seats in the 200-member parliament. The center-right alliance under outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala placed second with 23.4%.

"I have promised to demonstrate the president a solution that will comply with Czech and European laws," Babiš stated ahead of Sunday's discussions got under way.

Leadership Obstacles

Although hailing the "historic result" as "the pinnacle" of his governmental journey, Babiš faces significant obstacles both to assume the premiership and to gain and preserve support for the minority administration he has suggested.

Three established parties have already ruled out creating a partnership with ANO, forcing the billionaire to court approval from smaller conservative movements. "We'll undertake talks with the SPD and the Motorists, and aim for a single-party government under ANO," he declared.

Governing Agenda

Babiš, ranked as the republic's seventh most affluent person with an estimated net worth of $3.9 billion, campaigned on vows for faster growth, higher wages and pensions and lower taxes. He also promised to fight the EU's immigration agreement and climate program, and to terminate the artillery support program, instead backing Ukraine exclusively through EU channels.

Prospective Supporters

The party maintains certain similarities with the nationalist SPD, which also opposes EU climate and immigration policies – as does the compact right-leaning Drivers group.

The more extreme pro-Russian, anti-alliance, anti-European Union SPD also ran on a "departure" commitment to exit Czechia from the bloc, which Babiš has entirely refused. He has consistently maintained his party is "pro-European, and pro-alliance".

Negotiation Dynamics

Both the Motorists and the SPD have expressed openness to negotiations with the winning party, but it remains uncertain how far either party will opt to sustain a minority ANO government rather than seek a binding coalition accord – or how long such approval would continue.

Government observers commented that the SPD's electoral performance was significantly lower than the anticipated percentage before the election, meaning its bargaining power in talks on any support arrangement would not be as powerful as earlier thought.

Presidential Prerogatives

Even if Babiš is finally successful to present Pavel – who beat Babiš in 2023 presidential elections – with a multi-party agreement constituting a legislative control in parliament, his problems may persist.

The president declared before the election that he would not name any cabinet members who promoted departure from the EU or from Nato. He has also indicated he was seeking guidance from lawyers regarding a potential ethical concern concerning Babiš himself.

International Reactions

EU populist politicians including the Hungarian prime minister, who posted on social media that "Facts have triumphed!", and Paris's conservative, who said "nationalist groups" were being "invited to lead across European nations", have celebrated the outcome.

Nevertheless, while ANO is part of the conservative EU legislature faction and Babiš has presented himself as an supporter of the Hungarian leader, the EU's disruptor-in-chief, it is uncertain to what extent he will join forces with the anti-EU camp.

Expert Opinions

Government experts contend Babiš's politics are more pragmatic than doctrinal and that he is doubtful to initiate a serious fight with Brussels as long as the Czech Republic needs EU funds and the politician's enterprises continue to profit from the union.

Government structures are also likely to constrain the billionaire at home, with drastic alterations expected to be impeded by the senate, which can block any recommended electoral law or basic statute modifications and must validate court nominations selected for the supreme judicial body.