Czech Opposition Deals Blow to Populist Prime Minister in Senate Elections

Pro-Western opposition parties achieved a substantial victory in the Czech Republic's Senate elections, winning 22 of the 27 contested seats and dealing a blow to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's ruling coalition. The results, announced Saturday after nearly all votes were tallied, saw Babiš's centrist ANO (or YES) movement fail to secure any seats in the Parliament's upper house.

The election tested Babiš's support for the first time since he returned to power following parliamentary elections in October 2025. His coalition, formed with two smaller parties, has advocated for reduced support for Ukraine and a rejection of certain European Union policies.

While the lower house of Parliament leads the legislative process, the Senate plays a crucial role in approving constitutional amendments and judicial appointments. The opposition maintained its overall control of the upper chamber. The ANO movement previously held one seat in the Senate but lost it in this election. Babiš's coalition partners also failed to win any seats.