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The populist billionaire has held discussions with Czech President Petr Pavel and is set to consult with different faction representatives as he embarks on the difficult endeavor of forming a stable government subsequent to his ANO party won the election while missing an decisive mandate.

Poll Outcomes

Complete counts indicated ANO secured 34.5% of the vote from Friday and Saturday's election, representing a tentative 80 seats in the 200-seat legislature. The moderate conservative bloc led by outgoing Prime Minister Petr Fiala placed second with 23.4%.

"I've committed to demonstrate the president a method that will adhere to Czech and European laws," Babiš declared prior to the negotiations commenced.

Leadership Obstacles

Despite praising the "unprecedented achievement" as "the absolute peak" of his public service, Babiš encounters substantial barriers both to become prime minister and to gain and preserve support for the minority administration he has suggested.

Several mainstream factions have publicly dismissed entering a coalition with ANO, forcing the billionaire to pursue support from minor right-leaning parties. "We're initiating talks with the SPD and the Motorists, and aim for a one-party administration under ANO," he declared.

Governing Agenda

Babiš, ranked as the country's seventh-richest man with an calculated wealth of $3.9 billion, campaigned on vows for faster growth, increased salaries and retirement benefits and decreased levies. He also committed to challenge the EU's border policy and environmental initiative, and to end the shells-for-Ukraine initiative, instead supporting Kyiv solely via EU channels.

Possible Partners

Babiš's movement holds some common ground with the nationalist SPD, which likewise resists EU emission and migration rules – as does the smaller rightwing Motorists party.

The more radical Kremlin-aligned, anti-alliance, anti-European Union SPD also ran on a "departure" commitment to exit Czechia from the union, which Babiš has categorically rejected. He has repeatedly insisted his party is "pro-EU, and pro-alliance".

Discussion Scenarios

The Drivers faction and the SPD have shown receptiveness to discussions with ANO, but it is still unclear how far any group will opt to sustain a minority ANO government as opposed to attempting a formal alliance agreement – or what duration such backing could last.

Election experts observed that the SPD's ballot percentage was significantly lower than the anticipated percentage before the election, meaning its negotiating position in discussions about support arrangement would not be as influential as initially anticipated.

Presidential Prerogatives

Even when Babiš is ultimately capable to show the president – who beat Babiš in last year's presidential race – with a multi-party agreement constituting a parliamentary majority in parliament, his problems may persist.

The head of state announced before the election that he would not appoint any ministers who sought Czechia's withdrawal from the EU or from Nato. He has also indicated he was taking advice from lawyers regarding a conceivable integrity issue related to Babiš.

International Reactions

EU populist politicians including the Hungarian prime minister, who posted on social media that "Reality has won!", and Paris's conservative, who said "nationalist groups" were being "summoned to govern throughout the continent", have celebrated the outcome.

However, although ANO is part of the nationalist European parliamentary group and Babiš has characterized himself as an admirer of Orbán, the EU's disruptor-in-chief, it is unclear how far he will align himself with the anti-bloc faction.

Expert Opinions

Policy observers say Babiš's approach is more practical than ideological and that he is unlikely to pick a significant dispute with European authorities as long as the the nation depends on bloc support and the politician's enterprises continue to gain from European membership.

Government structures are also probable to restrict the billionaire at home, with extreme changes likely to be hindered by the upper house, which can veto any proposed polling regulation or fundamental law amendments and must approve judges appointed to the supreme judicial body.