Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has officially recognized the results of the parliamentary elections, in which his pro-European coalition, SPOLU, lost ground to the opposition movement, ANO, led by former Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. The elections, held on October 3 and 4, determined the new composition of the lower house of the Czech Parliament, where ANO received the most votes, paving the way for the formation of a government and the possible return of Babiš to the post of prime minister. Fiala, who has been at the helm of the cabinet since 2021, emphasized in a statement on the social media platform X the need to respect the democratic results.

"I congratulate the winner of the elections, Andrej Babiš, and I also congratulate all the participating parties on their achievements," “He wrote, emphasizing that the outcome of the vote is clear and requires calm acceptance. 

The SPOLU coalition, focused on close cooperation with the European Union and active support for Ukraine in the conflict with Russia, has faced difficulties amid economic challenges, rising prices, and criticism of domestic policy. Fiala, a representative of the Civic Democratic Party, previously emphasized reforms and European integration, including arms supplies to Kyiv. However, the opposition, led by Babiš, a billionaire populist, managed to mobilize dissatisfied voters by promising a foreign policy adjustment. According to preliminary results, after more than 95 percent of the ballots were counted, ANO has gained a significant advantage, which could lead to a shift in government priorities.